GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 8 College of Central Florida was able to come away from Gainesville with a sweep of the first three-game series with Santa Fe College Softball, as the Patriots came back to take Game 1 on Tuesday by an 11-8 score before winning Game 2, 5-3.

GAME 1 – #8 CF 11, SF 8

A GAME-CHANGING PLAY

SF led 7-1 after four innings, but the Saints were clinging to an 8-6 lead headed into the top half of the seventh against the high-powered Patriots bats.

In the top of the seventh, the first two CF batters were able to reach, and Calen Hayes then entered from the circle.

The first batter Hayes faced flew out to right field, but the runners tagged up and an SF throwing error over to third base scored a run and brought the tying run to third base.

The error was followed up by back-to-back CF hits that put the guests up 9-8, and then a two-run home run capped off the five run frame to help CF complete the comeback.

TEAM COMPARISON

CF had 13 hits, six of which went for extra-bases. Santa Fe meanwhile had three home runs in the contest.

Five stolen bases for CF helped put runners in scoring position, while SF had two swipes of its own.

The Saints were hurt by three errors, while CF did not commit one defensively.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Keeli Zingaro – 2-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI

Sydney Fowler – 1-4, HR, 3 RBI

Abrianna Hickox - 1-3, HR, BB

Riley Schnyder – 1-2, RBI, 2 R

SF PITCHING STATS

Sydney Fowler – GS, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, K

Sophie Abrams – 2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB

Calen Hayes (L, 0-1) – 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, K

GAME 2 – #8 CF 5, SF 3

A GAME-CHANGING PLAY

Three runs in the fifth inning gave CF a lead off SF pitcher Sophie Abrams. A two-run single from Brooke Roberts opened the game's scoring.

TEAM COMPARISON

The Patriots had 12 hits in Game 2, compared to seven for SF.

The Saints had two of the three home runs in the game, but they represented the only two extra-base hits for SF.

SF committed two errors, while CF had one…

The Patriots added eight more stolen bases in the series' final game to complete the sweep.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Lily Garnett-Brown – 1-3, HR, 2 RBI

Ariana Wright – 1-3, HR

SF PITCHING STATS

Sophie Abrams (L, 9-8) – 7.0 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, K

UP NEXT

Santa Fe (23-14, 0-3 MFC) now sets its sights on a new series with Daytona State College (24-21, 0-3 MFC). The first game between the Saints and Falcons will be on the SF Softball Field on Thursday, Mar. 23 at 3:00 p.m.