ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Senior center fielder Alexis McFarland and sophomore pitcher Kaili Heeb each smacked RBI doubles, but St. Francis surrendered five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to see its 2-2 battle wither to a 7-2 loss at Laguna Creek in non-league girls' fastpitch action Saturday, March 7.

The Troubadours slip to 2-5 for the season. The Cardinals win their fourth straight game to improve to 5-2 overall.

McFarland knocked her double to straightaway center in the second inning, bringing in Marissa Jensen, who reached on an error to lead off the frame. Unfortunately for St. Francis, the ball went through the fence for a ground-rule double, halting Ava Bernel at third. McFarland and Bernel ended up stranded in scoring position, as left-center fielder freshman righty Kynleigh Sickels retired the next two Troubies in order.

Heeb's double came in the fifth, also to center and also plating a runner, third baseman Isabella Barge, who reached on a Cardinal miscue. Sickels again escaped with no further damage when freshman left fielder Addison Berndt chased down a Lillyana Perkins fly ball deep into four territory. Still, Heeb's RBI equalized the contest at 2-2.

Laguna Creek, which scored in the first and fourth to twice take a one-run lead, pushed across three unearned runs on two hits and three sacrifice fly errors in the fifth. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Heeb coaxed two easy grounders before the Cardinals added two insurance runs. Right fielder and No. 3 hitter Kate Saxton delivered an RBI double for that seventh run.

Barge came up with a double of her own when her hard bounder reached the fence with two out in the seventh. Ariella Alcantar, who reached on a force out, moved around to third to set up two runners in scoring position. Sickels finished her day in the pitching circle by getting Heeb to fly out to center.

St. Francis was set to return to action Tuesday, March 10 for another non-Sierra Foothill League game at Schuster Field, this time at home against Pioneer.