GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe softball's Mid-Florida Conference schedule got underway with a home doubleheader against Florida State College at Jacksonville, and the Saints took two on their home diamond to extend their winning streak to four games.

GAME 1 – SF 5, FSCJ 4

The first three runs of the game went to FSCJ, as the Blue Wave tacked on one run in the first inning and two more in the second.

Santa Fe made it a 3-1 game with a run in the bottom of the second, after a solo home run from Ashlyn Rogers.

The Saints tied it up at 3-3 in the third, after Neely Peterson connected on a two-run homer to score herself and Jayelyn Carter.

FSCJ reclaimed the lead in the sixth frame with an RBI double from Sarah Keves to make it 4-3, but Saints starter Cris'Deona Beasley was able to keep the Blue Wave from adding any more, stranding two baserunners with a strikeout.

Still trailing by one, Santa Fe's final at-bats in the seventh started with three straight singles from Story Giebeig, Beasley, and Rogers.

Abrianna Hickox tied it at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly, setting the stage for pinch hitter Morgan Lebeda.

Down to her final strike, Lebeda made solid contact to put the ball in play with a grounder to third base. The FSCJ third baseman's throw over to first base went high, bringing Beasley all the way around from second base to score the winning run and hand the Saints a victory in the Mid-Florida Conference opener.

Key Statistics

Beasley pitched a complete game to earn the win with six hits allowed, four runs (two earned), one walk, and five strikeouts. It was Beasley's team-leading sixth win this season from the circle.

Santa Fe had 11 hits to six from FSCJ. Carter extended her hitting streak to nine games, going 3-of-4 from the plate with a run scored. Rogers was also 3-of-4, with an RBI and run scored after her team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Beasley and Giebeig each had two hits, while Peterson's homer in the third inning drove in two.

GAME 2  - SF 10, FSCJ 1 (5 Inn.)

The Saints jumped ahead early, putting up four runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. The first three batters reached safely before Peterson found a gap with a two-RBI single. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Rogers singled to score Peterson. The fourth run came on some great baserunning from Beasley following a fielder's choice.

Santa Fe went in front 5-0 with a run in the third, after Geibeig launched a shot over the left-center field wall.

After FSCJ was able to score one in the fourth, the Saints all but put the game away with a big bottom half of the fourth inning. The first three baserunners reached safely, and Carter walked in a run.

Two additional runs were manufactured before Peterson cracked her second two-run homer of the doubleheader and third in the last three games, putting the Saints ahead 10-1.

Taylor Barrett went untroubled rom the circle in the top of the fifth and earned the final out with a flyout in the run-rule victory.

Key Statistics

Barrett picked up her fifth win of the season from the circle, throwing all five innings. The freshman allowed just three hits, one run, and three walks, while continuing to be an effective strikeout pitcher, setting down nine batters.

Seven different players accounted for the Saints' eight hits. Peterson continued her torrid pace from the plate of late, going 2-of-3 with another home run, two runs scored, and four RBI. Grace Prom and Carter were effective at the top of the order, each notching hits and scoring two runs. Carter had an RBI walk, and her hit streak extended to ten.

Giebeig's solo home run was the third of the season for the Liberty University transfer and Columbia High School product.

Fico's Focus

"I was very proud of how our entire lineup produced in the second game today," said Head Coach Lindsay Fico. "When your seven-hitter is having just as productive of at-bats as the top of your lineup, it's going to be a good day. Neely Peterson powered her way through the day with the long ball along with Story Giebeig and Ashlyn Rogers having timely home runs."

"As far as pitching goes, Cris'Deona Beasley settled in nicely after a couple of innings in Game 1 and just kept working to keep us in the game. She did a great job of keeping her composure despite the early deficit. Taylor Barrett dominated the second game from the first inning, allowing us to end one early. It's very important that you shut the door early when you can in conference play because of how many times we have to play each other."

Up Next

Santa Fe (12-7, 2-0 MFC) remains on their home field for a Mid-Florida Conference doubleheader with NJCAA No. 1 College of Central Florida. Game 1 will start at 2:00 p.m.