Still, the talented righthander could pick up only two wins in the four games, and she had to throw no-hitters to do it.

Franchi blanked Prospect on no hits, then came back two days later to blank Lynbrook with another no-hitter.

Last week, though, she gave up two hits against Pioneer, and the Falcons lost a 3-1 non-league decision to the Mustangs. Then she was touched for four hits against Fremont, and the Falcons dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Firebirds in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division opener for each club.

Franchi was sensational the week before in the wins over Prospect and Lynbrook.

She threw six goose eggs at the Panthers in a game that last only six innings because of the 10-run rule. Saratoga scored a run in the home half of the sixth to win it 10-0.

She had to go the distance to get the win in seven innings against the Vikings. She struck out 10 as she pushed her pitching mark to 3-1 for the year.

But even though the Falcons jumped in front 1-0 in the first inning against Pioneer on March 17, the Mustangs chipped away with single runs in the second, third and fourth to pull out a 3-1 non-league win. Franchi threw a 2-hitter at the Mustangs, but the Falcons could manage just two of their own—a single and a double by Franchi.

Saratoga slipped to 4-3 for the year and to 0-1 in the division with the 1-0 loss to Fremont on Friday. Fremont scored the game's only run in the fourth inning and made it stand up for the win. The Falcons had just one hit in the game.

The Saratoga offense gave Franchi great support in the 10-0 win over the Panthers. Priscilla Chan singled and doubled and drove in four runs for the Falcons. Franchi also had two hits as Saratoga unloaded for 10 hits in the win.

Stef Behesthi and Kelli Bryan drove home two runs apiece for the Falcons.

Behesthi's two-run triple in the fifth inning sparked the Falcons to the 3-0 win over Lynbrook. Saratoga rallied for three runs in the fifth, and that was more than enough for Franchi, who was mowing down the Vikings.

Saratoga will try to get back on the winning track this week when the Falcons play host to Gunn on March 25, 3:30 p.m. Saratoga hits the road on March 30 for a 3:30 p.m. game at Santa Clara.