March 10, 2018

Gainesville, FL – The Santa Fe Saints used a nine run first inning to cruise past Daytona State College on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville, winning their Mid-Florida Conference opener 13-1 in five innings due to a mercy rule.  They took the second game 6-5 thanks to some clutch late inning insurance homeruns from Bailee Moll and Emily Yakel.

FCSAA #10 SF was lights out in the first inning of game one, plating nine runs on eight hits to essentially put the game away after an inning.  Yakel had two doubles and three RBI in the frame and finished 3-for-3 with three doubles and five RBI.

Giulia Fiorentini provided the big blast for the Saints in the first inning, drilling the first homerun of her career to left center field, a three run shot.

Santa Fe (22-9-2) added two runs in the third on a RBI single by Haissette Escudero and two more in the fourth on a RBI double by Yakel to put the game away.

Kaylan Tucker only allowed one base runner after the first inning, a fifth inning walk, and earned her eighth win of the season.

Escudero, Kaitlyn Bennett, Moll, and Raelye Rouw had two hits each.

Game two saw Santa Fe fall behind 3-0 in the third inning, but like they've done so many times this season they immediately answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to grab the lead.

Moll and Yakel hit back to back homeruns in the sixth to pad the lead, runs that would end up being the difference.

Daytona mounted a rally in the seventh, but left the tying run stranded at third after Tucker pitched herself out of a jam for her ninth win.

Escudero had a three hit game with a run scored and Moll was 2-for-4 with a homerun and two runs scored.

The Saints will continue MFC play on Tuesday, March 12 on the road at Seminole State College at 2:30 p.m.

For complete schedules, stats, and more information please visit www.santafesaints.com. 

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