Gainesville, FL – On Tuesday afternoon, the Santa Fe Saints baseball team hosted the Florida State College at Jacksonville Blue Wave at home for a 3:00PM game. The Saints defeated the Blue Wave with a score of 9-4. The Saints record improves to 24-17.

How It Happened

Macklin Miller started on the mound for Santa Fe. In the first inning, Miller struck out the first batter for the Blue Wave. Miller escaped the inning allowing no hits or runs due to a double play by Grant Gallagher at shortstop.

In the bottom of the inning, the Saints did not have any hits or runs.

In the top of the second, the Saints had a fast first out when Gallagher caught a fly ball hit between second base and center field. Miller walked the next batter, giving the Blue Wave their first baserunner. On a hit back to Miller, the Saints had their second out of the inning, though the baserunner advanced to second. The third out of the inning was made on a catch by Zach Dejesus in right field. The Saints escaped the inning allowing no runs.

At the plate, BJ Graham had an impressive hit to the center-field fence for a double to begin the inning. Graham advanced to third on a sacrifice fly hit by Connor Fosnow. Up next, Anthony Fimiano had a base hit to left field that scored Graham, putting the Saints on the board first. Trey Freeman followed with another hit to the center-field fence, but Fosnow was tagged out on the throw to home plate.

The Saints brought Travis Mabin in for relief at the top of the third. Mabin struck out the first batter for the Blue Wave. The following batter made it safely to first on a base hit up the middle. On a ground ball to shortstop, Gallagher was able to get this runner out on a fielder's choice but was unable to turn a double play, giving the Blue Wave a baserunner at first. Javier Soto made the third out of the inning on a fly ball to center field.

Offensively, the inning began with a solo home run by Dejesus to give the Saints a 2-0 lead over FSCJ. Gallagher was walked to give the Saints a runner at first. Gallagher advanced to second on an infield base hit by BJ Graham. Connor Fosnow was walked to load the bases for the Saints. Ultimately, the Saints were not able to capitalize on these baserunners and did not score any more runs this inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Mabin struck out the first two batters. The last out of the inning was caught by Dejesus in right field.

Trey Freeman was hit by a pitch and stole second base. He advanced to third on a throwing error to second made by the catcher. Dejesus was then walked, giving the Saints runners at first and third. He then stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position. Gallagher was walked, loading the bases with one out. The Saints scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Saints brought Anthony Scarpino in for relief pitching. Scarpino walked the first batter of the inning. The second and third batters for the Blue Wave both struck out swinging. The third out was made on a catch by Trey Freeman at second base.

In the bottom of the fifth, BJ Graham had a base hit double to start the Saints off with a baserunner. Fimiano followed with a base hit to advance Graham to third and give Santa Fe two runners in scoring position. This was followed by Trey Freeman being walked, which loaded the bases. Mason McManus then hit a ground ball to the third baseman who threw out Graham at home, but the bases were again loaded with two outs. The Saints were unable to capitalize on these baserunners and did not score any runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, Marchelo Biondi was on the mound for Santa Fe but was shortly pulled after giving up a run was and replaced by Kristoffer Blanks. The Blue Wave scored two more runs in the sixth, tying the game 3-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cory Filley had an RBI double to score the go-ahead run for the Saints. The Saints scored four more runs in the sixth to increase the lead to 8-3.

The Saints moved to Nick Staszak in the top of the seventh inning. He did not allow any runs in the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Saints scored another run, increasing their lead over the Blue Wave to 9-3.

The Blue Wave did not score any runs in the top of the eighth inning. 

The Saints had no hits or runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Saints utilized their bullpen by bringing in Lucas Johns as relief. Johns gave up four hits and one run before the Saints brought in Colby Rice to close. Rice had two strikeouts to lead the Saints to a 9-4 victory over the Blue Wave.

Up Next

On Friday, April 12^th, the Saints will face State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota at State College for a 5:00PM EDT matchup to begin the series between the two teams.