Softball Takes Two at Home over Daytona State College

Softball Takes Two at Home over Daytona State College

Team Stats

March 23, 2021
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Santa Fe softball won twice over visiting Daytona State College on Tuesday afternoon, as the Saints improved to 15-8 overall and 5-1 in Mid-Florida Conference play with a sweep over the Falcons.
 
It was a tale of two very different games, with the opener featuring plenty of offense and the nightcap a pitchers duel. 
 
GAME 1 – SF 10, DSC 6
Daytona State started strong, and led 4-0 after their at-bats in the top of the second inning. 
 
SF tied it up at 4-4, however, with four runs in the bottom of the second. The Saints had six hits in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Shaela Bybee followed by RBI singles from Riley Schnyder and Jayelyn Carter.
 
Santa Fe took their first lead of the game, 7-4, with three runs in the third inning. Story Giebeig smacked a two-run shot, and Bybee had a triple to bring in Neely Peterson.
 
Each team produced a run apiece in three consecutive frames, and the SF lead was 8-6 headed into the bottom of the fifth.
 
Ashlyn Rogers crushed a two-run homer to help SF establish a 10-6 lead, and the pitching and defense did the rest.
 
The Falcons had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth inning, but a smooth 5-2-3 double-play ended the inning, as Giebeig picked a hard-hit ball off the dirt at third base, fired over to home plate, and Peterson did the rest with the throw to first. 
 
Key Statistics
Cris' Deona Beasley was the winning pitcher, starting and then re-entering to go five and a third with five runs (just one earned), three walks, and matching a career-high with ten strikeouts. Taylor Barrett threw the seventh inning and got the final out.
 
Santa Fe had 11 hits, with Bybee, Peterson, and Rogers each having two. Bybee's double and triple drove in three runs, while Giebeig and Rogers each had two RBI and a home run. 
 
GAME 2  - SF 3, DSC 0
The Saints scored a single run in the second inning. Giebeig led off with a two-bagger, and scored on a batted ball from Rogers.
 
The game quickly became a pitcher's duel, and the score remained 1-0 all the way until the sixth.
 
The Falcons threatened in the top of the sixth, with runners advancing to second and third with no outs. 
 
Barrett got a pop out, strikeout, and fly out to get out of the jam, and the Saints were able to provide her with some insurance runs in their next at-bats.
 
Santa Fe strung together three consecutive two-out hits, setting the stage for pinch hitter Morgan Lebeda. Lebeda made the most of the opportunity, lining a ball right over the third base bag for a double to score two, handing the Saints a 3-0 lead. 
 
The Falcons were able to get two hits off Barrett in the seventh, but the freshman kept her composure and induced a fly out to center field to send the Saints to the sweep.
 
Key Statistics
Barrett's gem was her third complete game shutout of the season, and she finished with 11 strikeouts to just six hits and one walk. It was a dominant performance, and the fifth appearance that Barrett recorded double-digit strikeouts.
 
The Saints' bats had six hits from six different players, and none were bigger than Lebeda's double in the sixth. Grace Prom and Giebeig also had doubles, while Carter reached base three times with a single and two walks.
 
Fico's Focus
"Shaela Bybee had a big day at the plate today, and it was nice to see a little pop from the bottom of our lineup! Giebeig and Rogers continued to show their power at the plate and both had very timely, momentum changing home runs for us today."
 
"Our bench has been a true unsung hero all season, especially now that we have started conference play. Their heart, energy, and over-enthusiasm for their teammates is unmatched and it makes all the difference in the world. Brianna Arsenault and Morgan Lebeda came up with big hits in the sixth inning to put Game 2 away. I couldn't be happier for both of them to perform so well under pressure when we needed it the most."
 
"Beasley and Barrett put together a great day in the circle against a very talented, big swinging Daytona lineup. For both of them to handle the games as well as they did says a lot about their control and command of each pitch."
 
Up Next
Santa Fe (15-8, 5-1 MFC) plays at St. Johns River State College on Thursday, March 25. Game 1 starts at 3:00 p.m.