Grand Slam from Marquis Lifts SF Baseball to 4-2 Win over Polk State

Grand Slam from Marquis Lifts SF Baseball to 4-2 Win over Polk State
February 24, 2021
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Zeb Marquis' grand slam in the fifth inning was a turning point that helped Santa Fe baseball get past visiting Polk State on Wednesday afternoon, 4-2.
 
Runs were hard to come by in the game's early going, as Santa Fe starter Robb Adams and Polk State's Major Posey were both pitching well.
 
The Eagles manufactured one run off Adams in the second inning after a sacrifice fly, then went ahead 2-0 in the top of the fifth after tacking on another. 
 
The Saints would put together a two-out rally in the bottom half of the fifth, however. Austin Akey got things started with a single, then Xavier Moronta had a single of his own.
 
After Bret Madren earned a four-pitch walk, the bases were loaded. Marquis stepped to the dish and connected with a 1-0 pitch from Posey down the left field line. The ball was in the air for a while, and didn't land until it had cleared the fence and settled into a palm tree, starting the Saints' celebration at home plate as the bases cleared. 
 
 
The grand slam brought the score to 4-2 in favor of the Saints, and over the course of the final three innings, the SF defense got the job done to hold off Polk State. 
 
Adams, the reigning FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Pitcher of the Week, made it through seven innings from the mound on the way to his third victory of the season. 
 
Entering the day, the left-hander had tossed 26.1 innings without conceding an earned run, and had additionally thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings. Although each of those streaks came to an end, Adams had a solid outing with nine hits allowed, two runs (one earned), two walks, and four strikeouts. 
 
Shelnut threw the eighth and ninth innings and earned the final out with a strikeout looking. It was his third save of the year, and he allowed just one baserunner on a walk while striking out two. 
 
Santa Fe finished the game with six hits, all from different players in the batting order. None were bigger than the grand slam from Marquis, his first home run of the season. 
 
Wiggs' Words
"Adams gave us another good start to give us a chance," said Head Coach Johnny Wiggs. "I thought we had some really good swings that didn't end up in hits. Of course Zeb's grand slam was huge, and Shelnut gave us a great two innings on the back end."
 
Up Next
Santa Fe (8-7) will be at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Friday, Feb. 26 for a game set to start at 3:00 p.m.