CLEARWATER, Fla. – On the second day of the 2022 season, Santa Fe Softball once again split. Gulf Coast State College edged the Saints 3-2, then SF pummeled Polk State, 12-5 to conclude the day.

GAME 1 – GULF COAST 3, SANTA FE 2

The Saints grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening inning, capitalizing on a couple of timely two-out hits. Keeli Zingaro had an RBI double, then scored on an RBI single from Abrianna Hickox.

SF, however, was unable to get any run production the rest of the way, spoiling a quality start from Darian Ingram in the circle.

Gulf Coast had single runs in the fourth and fifth, then walked it off in the seventh on an RBI bunt single.

Ingram went 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs (one earned). She had just one walk to go along with seven K's.

Offensively, SF had five hits, all from different bats. Zingaro had the lone extra base hit with the double.

GAME 2  - SANTA FE 12, POLK STATE 5

Santa Fe started fast in Game 2 and had a couple of big innings to pull away from Polk State.

Six runs in the top half of the first put SF in a comfortable position. Zingaro had a two-RBI single, then scored on a double from Hickox. Abbigail Heywood walked in a run with the bases loaded, and then two more runs were tacked on courtesy of Eagles' errors.

Starting pitcher Sophie Abrams made her way through three innings, departing with a 6-2 lead.

Kaylie Araujo then finished the game and threw the final four frames to earn the win, with a line of three hits, three runs (one earned), four walks, and two K's.

Five more runs in the fifth for the Saints helped secure their second victory of the season. Story Giebeig smacked a grand slam to push the lead from 7-4 to 11-4, putting it out of reach for Polk.

SF was on the bases all game long, seeing production throughout the lineup to record 14 hits, ten RBI, and six walks.

Up Next

Santa Fe (2-2) will have their home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 1 against Hillsborough, after a recent schedule change. The doubleheader will begin at 2:00 p.m.