GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 19 Santa Fe Baseball (24-9, 13-2 MFC) claimed the opening game of the series with No. 13 College of Central Florida (32-11, 10-6 MFC), using an early advantage to hold off the Patriots by a 7-6 score.

The Saints' bats currently rank No. 7 in the NJCAA in doubles, and got the game started in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back RBI doubles down the third base line from Luis Rodriguez and Tyler Shelnut.

Although the Patriots threatened to score in their next at-bats, Santa Fe starter Mitchell Gross eluded any damage with a strikeout.

Santa Fe's lead grew to 4-0 in the bottom of the third, when Jonathan Logsdon singled before Rodriguez drove him around with another double. An RBI single from Dylan Mock came later in the inning to score Rodriguez.  

Rodriguez's clutch hitting continued to give the College of Central Florida fits, when he connected for a two-RBI double in the fourth to put the Saints ahead 6-0.

The Patriots scored the game's next four runs, however, with one in the fifth and three in the sixth. Two of those runs came via sacrifice flies, and CF led off the sixth with back-to-back homers to get their bats going.

Shelnut rounded the bases with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field to hand the Saints a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, and the insurance run proved to be useful as CF continued to put the pressure on with quality at-bats.

The Patriots began the eighth frame with consecutive doubles to make it 7-5, and the bases made their way loaded with no outs. A sacrifice fly off reliever Eduardo Yepes, who entered for Carson Pillsbury, scored one and brought the score to 7-6. The freshman right-hander from Miami got out of the jam with an infield fly and 6-4 groundout.

Although Santa Fe's bats were set down in order in the ninth, the Saints brought in Shelnut in the bottom half of the inning to seal the deal. The NJCAA's saves leader continued to perform in the clutch to earn his 11th save, and stranded one baserunner with a swinging strikeout to start the celebration.

Key Statistics

Rodriguez had himself a day at the dish, going 3-of-4 with three doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored. Gabriel Esquivel went 2-of-3 with a double and a run scored, while Shelnut was 2-of-4 with two RBI and the solo home run, his seventh homer of the season.

Gross picked up his fifth win of the season, going six innings while allowing seven hits, four earned runs, one walk, and striking out five. Carson Pillsbury, Yepes, and Shelnut followed him out of the bullpen to keep the Patriots from ever drawing back even or going in front. Shelnut's save was his 11th on the year.

Wiggs' Words

"Our hitters had great at-bats to give us the big 6-0 lead. I thought Gross was really good early and just tired a little there when he made a few mistakes. He gave us a good start today."

Up Next

No. 19 Santa Fe (24-9, 13-2 MFC) will meet the Patriots once again on Wednesday, April 7 in Ocala, Fla. The start time for that matchup is 3:00 p.m.