GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe Softball returned to their home diamond and came away with two victories over visiting State College of Florida, 6-3 and 7-6.

The Saints have now won four consecutive games to reach double-digit wins with ten, and remain unbeaten at home (6-0).  

GAME 1  - SF 6, SCF 3

State College of Florida was in control early, and went ahead 2-0 with single tallies in the first and second innings.

The Manatees threatened for more, but starter Sophie Abrams and the defense did well to limit the damage.

With two runners on for SCF in the top of the fifth, Kaylie Araujo relieved Abrams and was able to get the final out with a K.

The Saints turned the game around dramatically with a crooked number in the bottom half of the fifth, bringing around five runs to go in front 5-2.

SF took advantage of two Manatee errors with runners on base to go ahead 3-2, then Olivia Larkin had an RBI single. Larkin represented SF's final run in the frame, scoring on an RBI groundout from Keeli Zingaro.

The Saints led 6-2 in the sixth, when Story Giebeig led-off with a no-doubt homer to center field.

The Manatees had a solo homer of their own in the seventh, but Araujo recorded the final out via a strikeout to preserve the win.

Araujo improved to 3-0 from the circle, tossing 2.1 innings while allowing two hits and the one earned run while striking out three. Abrams' final line included 4.2 IP, six hits, two earned runs, five walks, and a strikeout.

Offensively, Larkin and Giebeig were the primary catalysts with two hits and an RBI apiece. Giebeig's homer was her team-leading fifth of the season.

GAME 2  - SF 7, SCF 6 (8 INN.)

The Saints concluded the doubleheader in style, winning in walk-off fashion in extra innings.

The first four innings were relatively quiet offensively for both sides.

Santa Fe jumped in front 1-0 when Zingaro's single brought Larkin in to score. SCF proceeded to tie it at 1-1 in their next at-bats, scoring on a passed ball. The Manatees then took their first lead of the game, 2-1, when a run was walked in.

Araujo entered with the bases loaded and was able to get out of the jam, inducing a 6-3 groundout.

The Saints had another productive fifth inning, plating four to go in front 5-2. Zingaro had a two-RBI double, then Giebeig drove in three runs with her second long ball of the series.

The Manatees responded in the sixth, tying it at 5-5 with a two-out, three run home run.

SCF appeared as if it would take a lead once again in the seventh, but Araujo and the Saints escaped a bases loaded jam with one out, after a force out at home plate and a ground out.

SF couldn't win it in the seventh, so the teams went to extras.

SCF sacrificed to advance their baserunner to third, then scored one run on a sacrifice fly. 

The Saints used the same strategy successfully in the bottom half of the eighth, and with two outs and a runner on third, Jayelyn Carter walked.

That brought up Zingaro, who had a great at-bat for her heroics with a line drive double down the left field line to walk the game off, as Carter hustled around the bases,

Araujo was the winning pitcher once again, replacing starter Darian Ingram.

The Saints had ten hits, four of which were from the bat of Zingaro with two doubles. The first baseman had four RBI, while Giebeig had three with another home run, her sixth in 2022.

Up Next

Santa Fe (10-4) will take their four-game winning streak into another twin bill at home with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Thursday, Feb. 17. Game 1 starts at 1:00 p.m.