PALATKA, Fla. – Five errors defensively throughout the game and a disastrous seventh inning hurt Santa Fe Baseball's chances for a sweep of St. Johns River State College, and the Saints fell to the Vikings by a 10-8 score in the season's final matchup between the two teams.

Although Santa Fe won the season series, 4-2, the Vikings had the final say on Saturday.

The teams were tied 2-2 through the first five innings. SJR plated two in the third, and SF tied it in the fifth with an RBI double from Santiago Garavito and a sacrifice fly from Jake McKee.

The Saints were able to establish a 6-2 lead with four runs in the top of the sixth. After singles from Jevin Relaford and Xavier Moronta, Shelnut brought them in with his fourth home run in as many games. Gabriel Esquivel then made it back-to-back moon shots, and SF was in control.

St. Johns River scored two unearned runs off starter Mitchell Gross in the bottom half, capitalizing on a leadoff single and two Saints' errors. Gross ended the inning with three fly outs to end his day and hand it off to the bullpen for the seventh.

That is when things went awry for SF, as Jake Blair had four of the five batters he faced reach base before handing the ball to Jacob Lauderdale with the bases loaded, one out, and the Saints still clinging to a 6-5 lead.

SJR tied it with a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat, then were able to manufacture four more runs with two outs to claim a 10-6 advantage, a stretch of play that included a walk, passed ball, triple and double.

With two runs in their final at-bats of the ninth, the Saints brought the game-tying run to the plate, but couldn't extend the game that concluded with an unassisted groundout to first base.

Key Statistics

The top four hitters in the order once again were productive, combining for eight of the Saints' 12 hits. Esquivel was 3-of-5 with three runs scored and his solo home run, the 17th of his season.

Shelnut's three-run home run in the sixth inning was his 18th on the season and moved him in a tie atop the NJCAA statistical leaders for that category. He also added a double.

Garavito and Herrholz had a double apiece, with each recording two-hits in the loss.

Gross took the no-decision from the mound after six innings, giving up six hits, four runs (just two earned), and a walk while striking out a season-high nine batters.

Blair (2-4) was charged with the loss after an ineffective start to the seventh, and Lauderdale finished the inning with two earned runs of his own. Carson Pillsbury threw a scoreless eighth inning to keep SF within striking distance, but a comeback wasn't meant to be.

Up Next

Santa Fe (24-21, 12-12 MFC) moved back a half-game behind St. Johns River in the MFC standings into the fourth position. With six more games left and two series against Daytona State College and Lake-Sumter State College, respectively, the Saints will need to start a winning streak in hopes of gaining ground on Seminole State and SJR in the race to earn the second MFC berth into the FCSAA State Tournament.

The Saints will next play at Daytona State College on Monday, Apr. 18 at 3:00 p.m.