CLEARWATER, Fla. – Santa Fe Softball opened the 2022 season with a split on Day 1 of the JUCO Kickoff Tournament, recovering from an 8-6 loss to East Georgia State College to topple Parkland by a 5-1 score.

With the win in Game 2, first-year Head Coach Savanah Webster claimed her first victory at the helm of the program.  

GAME 1 – EAST GEORGIA 8, SANTA FE 6

The Saints struck first, bringing across a run in the fourth inning. Story Giebeig got the frame started with a single, then was brought around by a Madison Dixon single, a fielder's choice, and an RBI from Brooke Hackim.

The Bobcats countered, however, with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Trailing 6-2 headed into the 6th, the Saints drew to within a run by plating three, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Keeli Zingaro and a sacrifice fly from Giebeig.

When the Bobcats scored two more in the bottom half of the inning, SF went into the seventh needing at least three runs to tie.

The Saints got one from Abrianna Hickox, who led off the inning with a single, but a flyout with one runner on concluded the opener.

Zingaro led SF with two RBI, going 1-for-3 with a run and walk as well. Hackim was 2-of-4 with an RBI, while both Giebeig and Abbigail Heywood drove in runs of their own.

Sophie Abrams was charged with the loss in the circle, throwing all six innings in her Saints' debut.

GAME 2  - SANTA FE 5, PARKLAND 1

Santa Fe's first victory of the season came via a great pitching performance from Darian Ingram, also making her SF debut.

Ingram was in command all game long, and kept the Cobras off balance. She conceded just five hits, one run, and one walk while striking out seven.

All of the runs came in the second and third innings for SF.

Riley Schnyder scored Hickox with a line-drive double to centerfield in the second. The Saints then loaded the bases with no outs in the third and took advantage to produce four runs. Heywood's two-out single brought in the final two runs make it a 5-0 game, and Ingram did the rest for the Saints' cause to preserve the lead.

The Saints had nine hits, two of which were doubles from Zingaro and Schnyder. Hickox, Zingaro, and Olivia Larkin each had multi-hit outings.

Up Next

Santa Fe (1-1) continues its play at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Fla. with two more games on Saturday. The Saints will play Gulf Coast State College at 1:30 p.m., then Polk State College at 4:00 p.m.