SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Amy Marks had five runs batted in and got the win on the mound as St. Francis defeated Del Oro in the home opener at Schuster Field on the St. Francis campus.

“I felt more solid yesterday but I am not disappointed in the fact I got a home run,” said Marks. “It could have been a better hit but I got it over, so that is good.”

Marks went 2-for-3 with 5 RBI and allowed eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts in the complete game victory.

“Senior year and first home game, it was a beautiful day and it went really well,” said Marks. “I am glad we won.”

For the second straight game, the Troubadours took a quick lead, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Marks and Shelby Tevis scored on a groundout by Emily Ainsley in the second.

Del Oro tied the game in the top of third, opening the inning with three straight hits. Molly Fowkes’ single scored the first run and the Golden Eagles tied it on a double steal attempt.

St. Francis added two in the third and broke the game open with four in the fourth. Ainsley opened the inning with a single. After a strikeout, Rhyann O’Mara walked and Alejandra Garcia followed with a single to score Ainsley. Marks followed with a home run to left center field to clear the bases.

Del Oro got back in the game with three runs in the fifth aided by a Troubadour error. The Golden Eagles then added a run in the sixth to cut the deficit to two.

The Troubadours added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Alexis Viramontes that proved useful.

After getting an out to start the seventh, Marks surrendered three straight singles to score a run. Marks continued to battle, forcing a pop up in the infield for the second out. Del Oro then added another run on a single by Layni DeMarte. With the tying run on third and winning run on second, Marks struck out Sami Bell looking to end the game.

“I normally don’t get nervous but I felt a little nervous (at the end),” said Marks. “I felt pressure to work through my tiredness. It was a long game and I never felt like I got a chance to sit down. I just wanted to focus on getting strikes and making sure it was not anywhere near the center of the plate.”

St. Francis returns to action next week at the Victory Tournament.

The JV team also won on Saturday, posting a 12-2 victory over Del Oro.

Bell and Hanson. Marks and Garcia. DO – Haynes 3×3. SF – Marks 2×3 HR 5 RBI; Viramontes 2×4 RBI; Garcia 2×4 RBI 3 R.