OCALA, Fla. – No. 10 Santa Fe College Baseball (38-8, 14-8 MFC) crushed No. 1 College of Central Florida (46-5, 19-4 MFC) on Monday, beating the Patriots by a 12-1 score in six innings.

GAME-CHANGING PLAYS…

The Saints got a great start on the mound from Jalen Hudson, who found a way to get the outs when needed to strand baserunners.

The Saints' offense produced runs in four of the game's six innings, and helped SF pull away with six runs in the fourth inning.

SF batted around the order in the frame, putting up the crooked number with four singles, two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a sacrifice fly.

TEAM COMPARISON

SF had 13 hits to eight for the Patriots.

The Hudson and Filley battery didn't allow an extra-base hit in the contest, as all eight CF hits were singles.

The only error in the game was charged to Santa Fe, but the Saints' defense turned two key double-plays.  

Both offenses displayed why they have been two of the more balanced lineups in the NJCAA this season. SF had eight different hitters collect a hit with five multi-hit efforts, while CF had six batters produce base knocks.

SF BATTING HIGHLIGHTS

Drake Harman – 2-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI

Grant Gallagher – 2-4, 2B, 4 RBI

Hunter Keen – 2-4, 2 R, RBI

Josh Hogue – 2-4, 2B, 2 R

Zeth Rodriguez – 2-4, 2 R, RBI

JP Herrholz – 1-3, BB, R, 2 RBI

SF PITCHING STATS

Jalen Hudson (W, 5-0) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Casey O'Dell – 1.0 IP, 1-2-3 sixth inning…

UP NEXT

No. 10 Santa Fe (38-8, 14-8 MFC) closes out the regular season Wednesday at home with the eighth matchup of the year against No. 1 CF. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

With one more regular season game left, the Patriots, the Mid-Florida Conference Champions, and the Saints are each tuning up for the start of postseason play in the opening round of the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament from May 5 – May 7.

CF will host the runner-up from the Southern Conference in Florida Southwestern for a best of three-game series, while SF will head to Bradenton, Fla. to play State College of Florida, the 2023 Suncoast Conference Champions.