SANFORD, Fla. – Santa Fe Baseball put an end to their recent five-game slide with an 8-4 win over the Seminole State Raiders, fueled by ten hits with the bats and a seven-inning start from Mitchell Gross.

Although the Raiders went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Gross posted a zero in the second inning. SF then proceeded to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Jevin Relaford's double was followed up by a single from Tyler Shelnut, then Gabriel Esquivel plated Relaford with a double of his own. The go-ahead run in Shelnut scored on an RBI groundout from Xavier Moronta.

A solo homer from Seminole State in their next at-bats tied it at 2-2, and the score would remain that way until the top of the sixth inning.

The Saints scored three to take a 5-2 lead, primarily with some effective small ball. Three singles and a sacrifice fly highlighted the inning. After the first two batters reached safely and a passed ball and stolen base moved them into scoring position, Jake McKee put the ball in play for an RBI groundout.

In the ensuing at-bat, Wyatt Campbell had a sacrifice fly. Zeb Marquis then reached on an error and stole second base. With two outs already recorded, Hunter Keen came through with an RBI single to make it 5-2.

Once again, the long ball aided Seminole State, as the hosts had a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-3. An RBI double in the bottom of the seventh cut the SSC deficit to just one, 5-4, headed into the eighth.

In the bottom half, the Raiders started with a single and double to end the day for Gross. In came Campbell to the mound, and he induced a grounder to the shortstop Relaford, who was able to beat the runner with a throw to Santiago Garavito at home plate for the tag.

The threat was not entirely averted until the next hitter, when a 6-4-3 double play kept the SF lead at 5-4.

Consecutive walks from Shelnut and Esquivel began the ninth inning, and SF was in business.

After a Moronta sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Garavito walked to load the bases. McKee walked in a run, then Campbell helped his own cause for the save with a two-RBI single, bringing the lead to 8-4.

Although the first batter for Seminole State in the bottom of the ninth reached on an error, Campbell stayed collected to set down the final three hitters to seal the win.

Key Statistics

The save from Campbell was his third of the season, and he didn't allow a hit over the final two innings while striking out one.

Gross (3-2) got the win for his seven strong innings. His line included ten hits, four earned runs, one walk, and a season-high eight strikeouts.

Relaford, Esquivel, and Keen each had two hits, with Relaford (one double) and Garavito (two doubles) accounting for SF's extra-base hits. McKee finished with two RBI, and Campbell had three.  

Up Next

Santa Fe (22-19, 10-10 MFC) and the Raiders (21-17, 11-8) will play the rubber game on Monday, Apr. 11 at 3:00 p.m. in Gainesville.