OCALA, Fla. – After dropping the opening game at the College of Central Florida, Santa Fe Softball took Game 2 in extra-innings to split the doubleheader with the Patriots.

It was the final doubleheader of the season between the two teams, with the season series now tied at 2-2.

GAME 1  - CF 4, SF 1

The Saints opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Jayelyn Carter had a one-out single, then stole second base. She advanced to third base on a fielder's choice, and then touched home on a sacrifice fly from Keeli Zingaro.

The lead didn't last for too long, however, as the Patriots tied it at 1-1 in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly of their own.

CF took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, and then added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run.

The Saints were unable to threaten in their final at-bats and fell by the 4-1 score. ­­­­­

Key Statistics

Santa Fe had just five hits, with two apiece coming from Story Giebeig and Carter. Zingaro had the lone RBI on the sacrifice fly. One the basepaths, Carter and Olivia Larkin each had stolen bases.

Darian Ingram (10-6) took the loss from the circle, allowing six hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out five.

GAME 2  - SF 9, CF 7 (8 INN.)

The Saints took control right out of the gate in the second game and went in front 6-0 with a big second inning.

Singles from Abrianna Hickox and Riley Schnyder got the frame started. With runners at third and second, Hickox scored on a passed ball, then Brianna Arsenault walked. In the next at-bat, Taniah Bowers connected for an RBI single, and then a CF error helped bring the third run in to score. Carter barreled up for an RBI double to left field, and two batters later Giebeig walked with the bases loaded to make it 5-0. Hickox came to the plate for the second time in the inning and took one for the team, with her hit-by-pitch accounting for the sixth run.

Sophie Abrams was performing well from the circle while SF was able to extend their lead to 7-0 in the fourth. Larkin walked and stole second, eventually coming around home on an RBI single from Giebeig.

A home run from CF in the fifth represented the Patriots' first score, but then they mounted a furious comeback in the sixth to come all the way back to tie it at 7-7. Ingram came in for Abrams in the inning but was ineffective, giving way to Calen Hayes.

Although CF did tie it at 7-7 with two sacrifice flies, Hayes limited the damage and did well to keep CF from taking the lead, stranding two.

Both sides never threatened in the seventh, and the two sides went to extra-innings.

Morgan Lebeda started the top-half with a walk, Carter doubled in the next at-bat, and Larkin walked as well to load the bases. Giebeig and Zingaro had back-to-back sacrifice flies to hand SF the 9-7 lead, and it was up to Hayes and the defense to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth.

CF was able to get runners on first and third with just one out, but a caught stealing and fly out concluded the game as the Saints held on for the split.

Key Statistics

Carter had another multi-hit game from her leadoff spot, going 2-of-5 with two runs scored, an RBI, and two doubles. Giebeig paced the offense with three RBI.

Abrams' final line included 5.0 innings pitched, six hits, four earned runs, three walks, and two strikeouts before handing the ball to Ingram. After CF was able to get three runs off No. 27, Hayes came in to improve her season record to 2-0, allowing just two hits over the course of the final three innings.

Up Next

Santa Fe (25-15, 7-5 MFC) will be at St. Johns River State College on Tuesday, Apr. 5. Game 1 of the doubleheader begins at 2:00 p.m.