GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 4 College of Central Florida (39-4, 12-3 MFC) was able to erase a 5-0 deficit on Wednesday afternoon on the SF Baseball Field, using three runs in the top of the ninth inning to get past No. 3 Santa Fe (35-4, 11-4 MFC) and defeat the Saints for the first time this season, 7-6.

GAME-CHANGING PLAYS…

The Patriots have proven capable of making late-inning surges on several occasions this season, and Wednesday was no exception.

Santa Fe plated three runs in the second frame on a two-RBI triple from Grant Gallagher and a two-out single from Cory Filley.

BSB - Bottom 2nd

SF 3, CF 0

Gallagher drives in the opening two runs with a triple deep to center field, and Filley makes it 3-0 right after him with an RBI single! #SicEmSaints pic.twitter.com/WWqx8PfBhu

— Santa Fe Saints (@santafesaints) April 12, 2023

The SF lead grew to 5-0 in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI singles from Zeth Rodriguez and Drake Harman.

The momentum slowed, however, and the Patriots began chipping away into the deficit. Trailing 5-4, CF was down to its final out before tying the game on a passed ball. After baserunners advanced to second and third, the very next pitch was taken for a ground ball up the middle. Moving to his left, Gallagher couldn't field it cleanly, and two more runners came around to score and make it 7-5.

Jacob Guthrie led off the bottom of the ninth with a full-count solo home run to left field, but Patriots' pitcher Cam Schuelke was able to retire the next three hitters to pick up the win on the mound.

TEAM COMPARISON

CF had 12 hits to Santa Fe's eight, and four of the Patriots' knocks went for extra-bases while the Saints had the triple from Gallagher and homer from Guthrie.

SF committed two errors, while CF played error-free.

With five more games left in the season-series and three more this week, SF now leads 2-1 in the matchup between the two Mid-Florida Conference and NJCAA powerhouses…  

SF BATTING HIGHLIGHTS

Drake Harman – 2-4. R, RBI

Grant Gallagher – 1-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI

Jacob Guthrie – 1-4, HR (5)

Zeth Rodriguez – 1-3, BB, R, RBI

Cory Filley – 1-4, RBI

SF PITCHING STATS

Tobin Moran – No-Decision, 7.1 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Chase Chappell (L, 2-2) – 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, BB, 1 K

UP NEXT

No. 3 Santa Fe College Baseball (35-4, 11-4 MFC) and No. 4 College of Central Florida (39-4, 12-3 MFC) will have two games on Friday in Ocala, Fla. The opener at 1:00 p.m. will be the resumption of a previously suspended game from Mar. 25, with Santa Fe leading 8-6 after four innings completed. The second game will begin shortly after, with an estimated start time of 3:00 p.m.