GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe Softball overcame a slow start to the day and went on a tear to sweep the day's doubleheader (and season series) with visiting Daytona State College, as the Saints got past the Falcons by 11-5 and 9-1 scores.

GAME 1  - SF 11, DSC 5

The day didn't begin as hoped for, as Daytona State, who entered the day's play at 6-35 overall and 1-11 in Mid-Florida Conference play, came out ready to play and jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Saints in the opening inning.

Starter Darian Ingram faced five batters and all were able to reach, forcing SF to turn to Sophie Abrams in the circle with the bases loaded and no outs, trailing 2-0.

Daytona State was able to bring three more across to lead 5-0 with still only one out, but Abrams and the defense got a flyout and groundout to finally end the first at-bats.

Although SF went down in order in the bottom of the first, Abrams, on her birthday, settled in nicely from the circle and the Saints' bats broke through in the bottom of the second in support of her.  

SF made it a 5-1 game when Story Giebeig walked, Riley Schnyder doubled, and Abrianna Hickox had an RBI single. Morgan Lebeda's sacrifice fly then scored Schnyder.

In the bottom of the third, SF brought the score to 5-4 with back-to-back singles from Jayelyn Carter, Olivia Larkin, and an RBI knock from Keeli Zingaro. Schnyder then had a sacrifice fly.  

Abrams continued to find success in stranding the Falcons' baserunners, and the Saints drew even in the bottom of the fourth when Taniah Bowers had a double and touched home on a Madison Dixon single.

SF took firm control with a crooked number in the bottom of the fifth, seizing a 9-5 lead. Giebeig started the rally with a double, then Schnyder reached on a walk. Once again, Hickox came up with a timely hit to score them both with a double.

Hickox accounted for the team's eighth run on an error from the DSC catcher, and later in the inning Carter had a sacrifice fly.

The game's final two runs came in the Saints' final at-bats, when Schnyder had an RBI groundout and Hickox struck again with an RBI single.

In the seventh, Abrams regrouped from a leadoff double to retire the final three Falcons with a groundout and two flyouts.

Key Statistics

There were 22 combined hits in the game, 13 of which came from SF. Hickox went 3-of-4 with a double, run scored, and team-high four RBI. Dixon also had a three-hit day, going 3-of-3 with an RBI.

Abrams got all 21 outs from the circle to pick up the win on her birthday, improving to 10-7. She scattered eight hits, walked four, and struck out six in the seven frames with no runs credited to her name.

GAME 2  - SF 9, DSC 1 (5 Inn.)

The Saints had clearly turned the tide of the doubleheader with 11 unanswered runs to conclude the opener, and that streak extended to an impressive 20 in Game 2.

Abrams started in the circle for Game 2, and after three scoreless innings from each side, the Falcons threatened in the top of the fourth.

Daytona State loaded the bases with no outs, and Abrams was relieved by Calen Hayes. As she has done so often in recent games, Hayes calmly got the Saints out of trouble, stranding all three runners with a K, pop out, and groundout.

The Saints then brought in all nine of their runs in the fourth, batting around the order. The first five hitters in the inning all had hits, and when the dust had settled, SF had amassed eight hits in the frame, with two hits from Giebeig, Schnyder, and Hickox.

The run-rule was in effect, and although the Falcons were able to score their first run of the game in the fifth, Hayes got the final out with a swinging strikeout.

Key Statistics

After producing nine runs in the fourth inning, the Saints had been able to (in combination with Game 1) put together 20 unanswered runs.

The heart of the order in Giebeig, Schnyder, and Hickox all had two hits and two RBI, with a Giebeig double and Schynder triple accounting for the extra base hits for the contest.

Abrams made her way through three scoreless innings, conceding just one hit and three walks. Hayes (3-0) earned the win with a line that included two innings pitched, one hit, one unearned run, and three strikeouts.

Up Next

Santa Fe (28-16, 10-6 MFC) heads to Lake-Sumter State College on Sunday, Apr. 10 for a doubleheader that will begin at noon.