LONGWOOD, Fla. – On Day 1 of the Courtney Miller Invitational, Santa Fe College softball was edged 6-4 by No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College before prevailing in a pitcher's duel by a 2-1 score against Indian River State College.

GAME 1 – #1 FSW 6, SF 4  

A GAME-CHANGING PLAY

The Saints led 3-1 through four innings against the Bucs, but then FSW tied it at 3-3 in the fifth.

FSW did the most damage in the sixth inning, plating three runs. The first three batters reached, and eight different batters came to the dish in the frame.

TEAM COMPARISON

Both sides had three defensive miscues.

SF finished with six hits, while FSW had five.

The Bucs had two stolen bases and five walks, finding a way to win despite not having an extra-base hit.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Sydney Fowler – 2-4, 2B, RBI, R

Riley Schnyder – 1-4, 3B

Story Giebeig – 1-2, R, BB

Jayelyn Carter – 1-4, R

Lily Garnett-Brown – 1-3, RBI

SF PITCHING STATS

Sophie Abrams (L, 4-5) – 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, K

Darian Ingram – 0.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 BB

Calen Hayes – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R

GAME 2 – SF 2, INDIAN RIVER 1

A GAME-CHANGING PLAY

With the bats held quiet, the Saints needed a strong pitching outing to get past the Pioneers. That is just what they got from Kensley Durrance. Durrance and the defense stranded the game-tying run at third base in the seventh to secure the 2-1 win.

TEAM COMPARISON

The game had just eight hits combined, three for SF and three for IRSC.

Two of the three SF hits were for extra-bases…

SF earned five walks, while IRSC had just one.

SF BATTING LEADERS

Lily Garnett-Brown – 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI

Juliann Smith – 1-3, 2B

Jayelyn Carter – 1-4, R

SF PITCHING STATS

Kensley Durrance (W, 9-3) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

UP NEXT

Santa Fe (14-8) gears up for Day 2 of the event on Sunday, when the Saints will play Miami Dade at 10:30 a.m. and No. 11 Pensacola State at 12:30 p.m. in Longwood, Fla.