GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe softball dominated visiting Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in all areas of the game in Tuesday's home opener, sweeping the Fillies in two run-ruled games, 9-1 and 10-0.

GAME 1 – SF 9, ABAC 1 (6 inn.)

Cris'Deona Beasley set the tone early from the circle, mixing up her pitches well to strike out five batters in the game's first two innings.

The Saints' offense produced the opening runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jayelyn Carter led off with a bunt single, stole second base, then Madison Dixon cleared the bases with her first home run of the season. Story Giebeig smacked a solo shot not soon after, and the Saints led 3-0.

Santa Fe's offense produced in every inning the rest of the way.

In the fourth, Beasley's double was followed by an RBI two-bagger from Carter.

Three runs were brought across in the fifth to give Santa Fe a 7-0 lead, as Abrianna Hickox walked in a run and Carter again struck for a double, this time to score two.

The Fillies scored their first run of the game in the top half of the sixth inning, a solo home run, but the Saints sealed the first win of the 2021 season with two runs in the following at-bats. Ashlyn Rogers had an RBI single to plate Neely Peterson, and then Beasley drove in the final run with an RBI single of her own.

In the circle, Beasley struck out a career-high ten batters to earn the win, scattering nine hits allowed to go along with just one earned run and one walk.

Six different batters had hits, and six different batters had at least one RBI. Carter led the way by going 3-of-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and three RBI from her leadoff spot. Giebeig, Rogers, and Beasley each had two hits, with Dixon driving in two runs with the home run and Giebeig clearing the fence as well.

GAME 2  - SF 10, ABAC 0 (5 inn.)

It was more of the same for the Saints, where quality pitching and productive bats led to a lopsided victory.  

Taylor Barrett was the starting pitcher and was excellent on her way to her first collegiate win with the Saints.

Barrett held ABAC scoreless over her complete game, giving up just two hits with four walks in five innings pitched. 12 of her 15 outs recorded came via the strikeout, and with Beasley's prior performance, 22 of the Saints' 33 outs recorded on the day came by the way of strikeout as the two kept the Fillies off-balance and guessing.

Offensively in Game 2, the Saints broke the game open with three home runs. Seven of the ten runs came in a big fourth inning.

Ashlyn Rogers belted a solo shot over the fence in the second inning, then Dixon's second home run of the doubleheader in the third frame scored herself and Shaela Bybee, who led off with a double.

In the explosive fourth inning, Beasley had a two RBI double, Carter scored Isabella Santiago with a double, Dixon laced a two-RBI single, and Neely Peterson crushed a two-run shot down the left field line.

Seven different Saints had hits and six of the ten hits were for extra-bases. Santa Fe was led by Dixon (3-of-3, HR, four RBI), Rogers (2-of-2, HR, 2B, two runs scored, RBI), Beasley (1-of-2, 2B, two RBI), and Peterson (1-of-3, HR, 2 RBI, one run scored)

Fico's Focus

"I was very proud of our pitchers today!" said Head Coach Lindsay Fico. "They were both phenomenal and threw very few mistakes. Cris'Deona and Taylor controlled the pace of both games in the circle and our defense played strong behind them."

"Our offense was also explosive. We made early adjustments in the box and squared the ball up through the order. There were too many great at-bats to just name a few, but Ashlyn Rogers. Madison Dixon, and Jayelyn Carter were among the many big producers offensively."

Up Next

Santa Fe's next time out is Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Hillsborough Community College. The doubleheader will begin at 4:00 p.m., and will be played at New Tampa Community Park in Tampa. Fla.