St. Francis 6, Driscoll 5

In a Suburban Catholic Conference softball contest that contained plenty of extra-base hits, it took an infield single to win the game.

St. Francis' Monica Mraz beat out an infield hit to score Emily Karpinski from third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting the host Spartans past Driscoll 6-5 Friday in Wheaton.

"It was nice that Monica did it," St. Francis coach Ralph Remus said. "She's a senior and one of our captains. It's just appropriate for her to win a big conference game for us. I was real happy for her."

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Karpinski got St. Francis (4-4, 1-0) going with a double, her team's fourth of the game. She advanced to third on Jenny Eldridge's groundout.

That brought up Mraz, who hit the ball hard back up the middle. Driscoll pitcher BreAunna Medinger got a glove on it and the ball deflected to shortstop Mary Sullivan, who fired to first, but Mraz was called safe on a close play.

"I knew I hit it to the pitcher and I was kind of nervous that she caught it at first, then I saw it dribble past her a little and I just ran as fast as I could," Mraz said.

"She's a tall girl, but once she gets going she really can fly," Remus said.

Highlanders coach Nick Christopher thought Mraz was out.

"What are you going to do, you know?" Christopher asked. "It was a nice game, though, by both sides."

The first inning was eventful.

Driscoll (5-7, 0-3) took the lead in the top of the first on Tarah McShane's 2-run triple.

St. Francis answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning. Maddie Blecha's 2-run double put the Spartans ahead 3-2 and Kelcey Fabianski's RBI double made it 4-2.

Driscoll tied the game in the top of the third on Maggie Writt's picturesque 2-run homer over the left-field fence.

It was Writt's third home run of the year. She also has a team-high 11 RBI.

"Maggie's been red hot," Christopher said.

St. Francis moved back ahead on Blecha's RBI single in the bottom of the third.

Driscoll tied the game again on Gina Savatski's RBI single in the sixth.

Freshman Taylor Ronchetto earned her first victory with 3½ innings of relief. She allowed only 1 hit.

"She did a very good job," Remus said.