Gainesville, FL – On Sunday afternoon, the Saints faced Eastern Florida State College for a doubleheader at home. The Saints played the Titans earlier in the season, losing one game and winning the other. In the first game of the matchup, the Saints won 8-0 and won the second game 7-4. The Saints' record advances to 31-12.  

How It Happened

Game 1

Mallory Forrester started on the mound for the Saints. In the first inning, Forrester struck the first batter out swinging, followed by the next two batters flying out. Forrester gave up no hits or runs in the top of the first inning.

At the plate, Ariana Wright had a base hit to left field for a single in the bottom of the first inning. Up next, Madi Conway had a base hit to left field to score Wright, putting the Saints on the board first.

In the top of the second inning, Forrester and the Saints did not allow any hits or runs.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Saints did not have any hits or score any runs.

The Titans were hitless and scoreless in the top of the third inning.

The Saints were also hitless and scoreless in the bottom of the third inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, the first batter for the Titans flied out to right field, followed by a flyout to shortstop Aliana Mercado and a flyout to center caught by Jayla Clark. The Titans remained hitless and scoreless through the fourth inning.

At the plate, the Saints led off the bottom of the fourth with a double by Ariana Wright to left-center field. Juliann Smith was walked to put runners on first and second base. Up next, Cloey O'Doniel hit a double to score Wright and advance Smith to third, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead over the Titans. Karris Rhine followed with a base hit to score Smith and put runners on first and third with one out. Mercado was walked, loading the bases for the Saints. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Sydney Fowler hit a grand slam home run to give the Saints a 7-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, Forrester began the inning by striking the first batter out. The next batter made it safely to first on a hard-hit ground ball to the shortstop, Mercado, who was unable to field the ball cleanly. She advanced to second on a stolen base. Forrester walked the following batter. On a fake bunt, both runners advanced putting them at second and third. Ultimately, Forrester struck this batter out. The following batter grounded out and the Saints escaped the inning without allowing any runs.

At the plate, Juliann Smith had a solo home run to give the Saints a mercy rule over the Titans (8-0).

Game 2

Ryleigh Bauer started on the bump for the Saints. In the top of the first inning, Bauer gave up one hit, but did not allow any runs.

In the bottom of the first, Sydney Fowler made it safely to first on an error by the Titans' shortstop. Fowler advanced to second when Jayla Clark was walked. Both Fowler and Clark advanced when Ariana Wright was walked. Juliann Smith hit a single to left field to score Fowler, putting the Saints on the board. Madi Conway then hit a grand slam home run to score Clark, Wright, Smith and herself to give the Saints an early 5-0 lead over the Titans.

In the top of the second inning, Ashley Corazzini had a base hit to the center field fence for the Titans. Bauer answered with a strikeout swinging, keeping Eastern Florida off the board through the second inning.

At the plate, Gabrial Miles was walked to begin the bottom of the second. Sydney Fowler then hit a two-run homer to increase the Saints' lead to 7-0.

In the top of the third inning, Bauer allowed one hit, but escaped the inning without allowing any runs.

In the bottom of the third inning, Cloey O'Doniel hit a base hit single to start the inning off. She advanced to second on a fielder's choice ground ball by Karris Rhine, and then to third on another fielder's choice hit by Aliana Mercado. O'Doniel attempted to score on a wild pitch but was tagged out at home plate to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, Bauer and the Saints had a three up, three down inning. The third out came from an impressive diving catch by Rhine in left field.

In the bottom of the inning, the Saints had no hits or runs.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Titans hit a three-run home run, diminishing the Saints lead to 7-3. The Titans went on to score one more run this inning.

At the plate, the Saints did not have any hits or any runs in the bottom of the inning.

In the sixth inning, Bauer was pulled, and Forrester returned to the mound. The Saints did not allow any runs this inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Karris Rhine started at the plate for the Saints and had a base hit for a single. This was followed by Aliana Mercado being walked, bringing Miles back up to the plate. Miles then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Rhine to third and Mercado to second. Ultimately, the Saints were unable to capitalize on these baserunners and did not score any runs in the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, Forrester did not allow any hits or runs, leading the Saints to a 7-4 victory over the Titans.

Up Next

On Tuesday, April 9^th, the Saints will face the College of Central Florida for a doubleheader. Both games will be away and the first pitches will be thrown at 2:00PM and 4:00PM EDT.