The Santa Fe Saints once again relied on strong pitching and timely hitting to improve to 3-0 on the season after sweeping South Georgia State College 4-0, 6-4 Saturday afternoon in Gainesville.

In game one, UF transfer Connor Churchill (1-0) held the Hawks scoreless over the first five innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six to earn the win. Emanuel Fernandez pitched a scoreless sixth and Jarrod Cande pitched a perfect seventh to close out the win.

"Churchill was outstanding," said SF Head Coach Johnny Wiggs. "He really pounded the strike zone and got quick outs."

The Saints scored all of their runs in the bottom of the first when they strung five hits together with one out. Garrett Mathes got things started with a double and scored when Cade Westbrook followed with an RBI single. Kyler Marquis then doubled and Brock Edge followed with an RBI single sending Marquis to third. Jonathan Logsdon drove in the third run of the inning with a single and Edge later scored on error to complete the scoring.

Game two started the same way with the Saints taking a 2-0 lead in the opening frame, but after falling behind 3-0 the Hawks put up three in the top of the fourth to tie the score. SF re-took the lead when Cale Jones singled home Edgar Brito in the bottom of the fourth to put the Saints back in front at 4-3.

The Saints pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth when Parker Biederer single home a run and Isaiah Perry scored on a passed ball.

Brooks Walton (1-0) set down everyone he faced in the fifth and sixth innings to earn his first win of the year and Mathes pitched out of trouble in the final inning to get his first save of the year.

"Walton gave us a great effort today," said Wiggs. "He was dialed in on throwing strikes. I'm really proud of our guys and their effort these first three games. We found ways to score when we needed to and get a scoreless inning when we needed to."

The Saints next game will be Monday when the Tallahassee CC Eagles are scheduled to come to Gainesville for the 3 pm start.

For all SF Athletics schedules, stats and more visit santafesaints.com.

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