February 19, 2016

Box Score

Photo credit: fwilsonphotography.com 

Gainesville, FL – It wasn't the prettiest win but the Santa Fe Saints got it done on Friday afternoon against Polk State, kicking off a four game home stand with an 8-5 win over the Eagles.  SF pitchers walked eight batters, but got themselves out of jams with clutch pitches to strand 13 PSC runners.

SF (11-3) fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first, but immediately took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning, and added to their lead with a run in the second and another in the third.

The Eagles (8-5) pulled within one with a two run fourth, trimming the SF lead to 4-3.  Santa Fe's Hugo Valdes plated a run in the fifth, and Robbie Hanlon knocked in another in the sixth for the first of two runs in the inning.

Polk State scored two in the seventh to make it a 7-5 game, but SF's Stephen Smith pushed it back to a three run lead with an RBI double in the eighth.  Troy Bacon closed out the game with a perfect ninth for his team leading third save of the season.  Bailey Metcalf (2-0) earned the win 2.1 innings in relief of starter Kevin Fuentes.

Smith finished 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI, Hugo Valdes was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Dillon Reed was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Wyatt Meisterhans was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Santa Fe continues at home on Saturday with a double header against Pensacola State College at 12 noon.

For complete schedules, stats, and more information please visit www.santafesaints.com. 

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