Softball Claims Spot in State Tournament with Sweep of Daytona State

Softball Claims Spot in State Tournament with Sweep of Daytona State

Team Stats

April 22, 2021
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe Softball punched its ticket to the FCSAA State Tournament with two wins over visiting Daytona State College in the Mid-Florida Conference Tournament, 1-0 and 3-2.
 
The Saints berth into the FCSAA State Tournament represents the program's 16th all-time, and first since the 2017 season.
 
Santa Fe found themselves in two low-scoring, tightly contested games in Gainesville on Thursday afternoon, but prevailed to celebrate and advance in postseason play.
 
Game 1  - SF 1, DSC 0
 
Santa Fe's Taylor Barrett and Daytona State's Alyssa Kelly found themselves in a pitcher's duel in the opener.
 
It was Barrett that would come out on top, with a Madison Dixon solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning proving to be the difference. 
 
The Falcons had a baserunner advance to third base with no outs in the sixth, but Barrett stayed calm and collected to strikeout three consecutive batters, two of which were caught looking. 
 
The Falcons were set down in order in the seventh, and the Saints gained the upper hand in the day's doubleheader. 
 
Key Statistics
SF finished with six hits, none bigger than the solo home run from Dixon in the fourth. The home run was her ninth of the season. Jayelyn Carter went 2-of-3 and had a stolen base. 
 
Barrett's 12th complete game of the season from the circle was a two-hit shutout, as the freshman improved to 13-6 with the prolific performance. She struck out ten and walked just two. 
 
Game 2 - SF 3, DSC 2 
Santa Fe fell behind early, and the Falcons' bats started to come alive in a must-win game.
 
Daytona State's first two batters of the game reached safely, but starting pitcher Cris'Deona Beasley did well to hold the Falcons to a single run in the inning.
 
DSC's lead grew to 2-0 in the top of the third on a solo home run from Daisy McQuain.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, SF's first three batters reached. After a force out at home plate, Neely Peterson had a great at-bat, coming all the way back from 0-2 down to walk in a run. The Saints had the opportunity for more with the bases loaded and one out, but it was squandered with a force out at second and tag out at the plate.
 
Santa Fe was able to equalize in the bottom of the fifth. Riley Schnyder had a leadoff double, finding grass down the left field line with a well-placed blooper. After a well-hit Grace Prom flyout, Schnyder advanced to third. A Falcons error on Carter's next at-bat plated Schnyder to make it 2-2. 
 
The momentum had begun to swing the way of the hosts, as a few more quality at-bats came against Daytona State's pitcher Kelly, who tossed all 13 innings on the day. 
 
The score would remain tied at 2-2, and it appeared that it may stay that way as the teams headed into the seventh. Ashlyn Rogers had other plans in the sixth, however, and she put SF ahead 3-2 with a two-out jack deep to left field, getting ahold of a 1-2 pitch. 
 
Beasley and the defense did the rest in the seventh to preserve the victory. Despite walking the leadoff batter, Beasley induced a fly out, ground out, and 6-3 Prom to Rogers putout to start the Saints' celebration at home plate, confetti and all. 
 
Key Statistics
Beasley improved to 12-7 from the circle and threw her 11th complete game. She allowed seven hits, two earned runs, and four walks while striking out eight Falcons. 
 
Santa Fe had eight hits, with Schnyder and Rogers each recording two. The two extra-base hits were Schnyder's double and Rogers' no-doubt game-winner, her tenth to clear the fence this season. Carter and Peterson accounted for the other RBI. 
 
Fico's Focus
"I'm so proud of the team!" said Head Coach Lindsay Fico. "It feels good to have all of the hard work they put in all year finally pay off in two very hard-fought playoff games! Daytona State has a lot to be proud of this year with what they overcome."
 
"Our dugout is the absolute best around! They set the tone very early and never let up! We have a special group of girls this year who want it for each other more than their individual accomplishments."
 
"Madison Dixon and Ashlyn Rogers both worked through some struggles at the plate to get the big HR when we needed it. I'm proud of how we competed and the fact that we never gave up. It was a great day to be a Saint!"
 
Up Next
Santa Fe (28-14) gears up for the FCSAA State Tournament, which will take place from May 7 - May 10 at the Boombah Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Fla.