GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe Baseball belted a season-high 20 hits in an 11-1 win over Lake-Sumter State College, taking the opening game of the series with the Lakehawks in six innings of play after invoking the run-rule.

The Saints jumped ahead of Lake-Sumter early and held a 7-0 lead after the first two innings. Five singles in the opening inning plated three, and six more hits in the second brought in four more. Gabriel Esquivel's three-run home run in the second was his 11th of the season, tying Tyler Shelnut for the team-high.

The Lakehawks' lone run came in the fifth inning, but starter Mitchell Gross had an excellent outing on the mound and the Saints' bats did the rest, eventually walking it off with a double from Wyatt Campbell to score Santiago Garavito.

Key Statistics

Every bat in the starting lineup had a hit on their way to the team-high 20 knocks.

Esquivel had a huge day at the plate, going 4-of-4 with the homer, a double, three runs scored, and six RBI. Jevin Relaford and Garavito each had three hits, and Campbell recorded two doubles. On the basepaths, Relaford stole two bases.

Gross earned his second consecutive win to improve his record on the season to 2-1. In the complete game of six innings pitched, he allowed just six hits, only one of which went for extra-bases. He struck out five and allowed no free passes.

Up Next

Santa Fe (18-14, 6-5 MFC) visits Lake-Sumter State College for Game 2 of the Mid-Florida Conference series on Monday, Mar. 28. The game will begin at 3:00 p.m.