GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two runs in the eighth inning helped No. 6 Santa Fe College Baseball earn a 4-2 win over visiting Daytona State College, as the Saints completed the sweep of the three-game series with the Falcons and improved to 29-1 overall and 5-1 in Mid-Florida Conference play.

A GAME-CHANGING PLAY…

There were a couple key plays to choose from in addition to the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning. An SF defensive play in the top of the sixth frame had the biggest implications.

Daytona State loaded the bases with no outs, and Chase Chappell entered for the Saints on the mound to try and get out of the jam.

The freshman from Greensboro, N.C. did just that, striking out the first batter he faced before inducing a 5-4-3 double-play (Zeth Rodriguez, Hunter Keene, JP Herrholz).

In the bottom of the eighth, a single from Herrholz and a walk from Rodriguez set the stage for Drake Harman, who stroked a pitch into right field for the go-ahead RBI.

The final SF insurance run came on a well-placed squeeze bunt from Grant Gallagher, as Rodriguez scored on the play at home plate that was unable to be held onto by the Falcons' catcher.

TEAM COMPARISON

SF had seven hits, while the Falcons had five…

The Saints committed three defensive errors.

All four SF pitchers out of the bullpen combined to keep Daytona State scoreless over the final five innings.

SF BATTING HIGHLIGHTS

Drake Harman – 3-4, 2B, RBI

JP Herrholz – 2-3, HR, 2 R, BB

Hunter Keen – 2-4, R

SF PITCHING STATS

GS: Jacob Phillips – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5K

Casey O'Dell – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Ryan Brown – 0.0 IP, BB

Chase Chappell – 2.2 IP, 1 H, BB, 2 K

Jacob Lauderdale (W, 5-0) – 1.1 IP, 1 K - Recorded two saves and the win in the series...

UP NEXT

Up next for the No. 6 Saints is the series we have all been waiting for with No. 1 College of Central Florida (30-1, 6-0 MFC).

Game 1 will be in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Mar. 22 at 3:00 p.m.