GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Santa Fe Softball played their second Mid-Florida Conference series of the season at home on Saturday, and led the whole way to take the opener before being edged out in Game 2 by visiting St. Johns River State College. 

The Saints hosted the Santa Fe Babe Ruth Softball 10U team for the day, a local program with close ties to SF. Assistant Coach Katie Chronister, along with Riley Schnyder, Calen Hayes, Taniah Bowers, and Jayelyn Carter all came through the organization. 

GAME 1  - SF 6, SJR 4

Santa Fe led 3-0 after two innings with a run in the first and two more in the second. Olivia Larkin and Story Giebeig had RBI singles in the second for the Saints' cause.

SJR got on the scoreboard with a single tally in the fourth, but the Saints countered with three runs of their own.

Giebeig drove in two more with a double, and Taniah Bowers had a two-out single plate Zingaro for the Saints' sixth run.

The Saints conceded one run in the fifth and reliever Kaylie Araujo got out of a jam to limit the damage.

With SF leading 6-2, the Vikings kept coming in the top of the sixth. The Vikings pushed two across before the Saints had the starter Sophie Abrams re-enter, and she was able to strand two baserunners to keep the Saints in front 6-4.

Abrams and the defense had a smooth seventh inning, setting SJR down in order to claim Game 1.

Key Statistics

Abrams moved to 7-5 from the circle, allowing five hits, four walks, and two earned runs while striking out four.

The Saints had eight hits and six walks on their way to the six runs, five of which were driven in. Giebeig went 3-of-3 from the dish with three RBI, a double, and a walk. Jayelyn Carter from the leadoff spot went 2-of-3 with three runs scored. Larkin reached safely in every at-bat with one hit, two walks, a run scored, and an RBI. Riley Schnyder had an extra-base hit with a double, and Bowers added an RBI.

GAME 2  - SJR 4, SF 3

The Saints once again were able to establish an early lead, 1-0 after the first frame. After a hit-by-pitch, Carter put pressure on the defense and stole second, advanced to third on an error, then sprinted all the way home on yet another Vikings miscue.

Darian Ingram and the Saints' defense posted five straight zeros, and the 1-0 lead held up all the way into the sixth inning.

The Vikings, however, took their first lead of the series in the sixth. Capitalizing on a few Santa Fe errors, St. Johns River tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

With runners on first and second with one out, Morgan Lebeda came into the circle for the first time this season in relief of Ingram. After striking out the first batter she faced, the Vikings found a gap in the outfield off Lebeda for a two-out, two RBI double to take a 3-1 lead.

SJR added an insurance run in the seventh inning to take a 4-1 lead, once again taking advantage of an error from the Saints.

In what would prove to be their final bats, SF threatened to tie or end the game on a walkoff. The first batter reached first on an error, and Madison Dixon then walked. After a pitching change, Schnyder did her job and sacrificed with a bunt to move the runners to second and third.

Carter once again came through in the clutch, bringing both baserunners in to score with a great at-bat, culminating in a line drive to center field.

With the go-ahead run at the plate and one out recorded, a groundout brought Carter, representing the tying run, to third base. The always dangerous Keeli Zingaro stepped into the batter's box, but St. Johns River induced a groundout to the shortstop. A close play at first base proved to be the game's final play, as Zingaro was called out in her attempts to beat the throw and leg out an RBI infield single.

Key Statistics

Carter had another huge game from her leadoff spot, finishing 2-of-2 with two RBI, a run scored, a double, and two stolen bases. Four others recorded single hits as SF had six in the game compared to the Vikings' eight.

Ingram was charged with the loss, though all four of the St. Johns River runs were unearned. In 5.1 innings pitched, she allowed five hits, five walks, three unearned runs, while striking out seven. Lebeda and Araujo combined to record the final five outs.  

Up Next

Santa Fe (20-12, 2-2 MFC) will host Lake-Sumter State College on Tuesday, Mar. 22. Game 1 begins at 2:00 p.m.