Backed by McKenna Gregory’s second no-hitter of the season, Benicia High’s softball team managed to squeak by El Capitan, 1-0, in Tuesday’s first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs in Sacramento.

Benicia’s only run came in the bottom of the third inning. Olivia Mackey led off with a single, advanced to third on a single by Adriana Chavez and scored on a Chelsea Mari sacrifice fly to right to make it 1-0.

That was all Gregory needed. The junior allowed a lone walk to El Capitan team captain Cassie Gasper but struck out 15 Lady Gauchos, including 13 swinging.

“She’s a workhorse and a competitor,” Benicia manager Kristin Grubbs said of Gregory, who improved to 13-5 on the season. “She understands that the playoffs are what we’ve been working for all year and she wants the ball with the game on the line. She did a good job of throwing pitches the umpire liked and staying around there while still keeping the other team off balance.”

Benicia (19-5), seeded fifth in the Division III bracket, faces No. 4 seed Yuba City (19-6-1) on Friday at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

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