Gainesville, FL. – On Tuesday, the Saints faced the Daytona State Falcons at home for a double header. This was the first time the two teams played each other this season. The Saints won the first game 3-2 and won the second game 10-3. The Saints record advances to 11-6.

How It Happened

Game 1

Ryleigh Bauer started out in the circle for the Saints. In the first inning, she had two strikeouts (one looking and one swinging) and only allowed one hit. Bauer did not allow any runs in the first inning.

Offensively, the Saints did not have any hits or runs in the first inning.

At the top of the second inning, Bauer had two back-to-back strikeouts swinging. These were followed by an impressive catch in left field by Karris Rhine to get out of the inning. Bauer again allowed no hits or runs in the second.

In the bottom of the second inning, Alexis Daphney hit a line drive to the left field fence to put a runner on first base for the Saints. She advanced to second base on a line drive single hit by Juliann Smith, putting another runner on. Daphney moved to third and Smith moved to second when Gabrial Miles was walked. Up next was Aliana Mercado who hit the ball back up the middle, scoring Daphney and putting the Saints on the board first. She would then score when Kamaya Cohen was walked with bases loaded. The Saints had a total of three hits and two runs in the bottom of the second inning.

In the third inning, Bauer had two strikeouts, allowed zero hits, and allowed zero runs.

In the top of the fourth inning, Bauer allowed three hits and two runs. The Saints escaped the inning when a ball was hit to the left field fence and Karris Rhine threw a runner out at home.

Ariana Wright hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth inning. This was followed by Alexis Daphney getting walked, advancing Wright to second. Next, Madi Conway laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring position. Wright scored on a ground ball RBI by Juliann Smith, putting the Saints back into the lead (3-2).

The seventh inning was three up three down for the Saints.

The final score of the first game was 3-2 (Saints). The Saints had four hits and no errors in game one.

Game 2

Mallory Forrester started in the circle for the Saints. In the top of the first inning, she had two strikeouts, one swinging and one looking. The Falcons had no hits or runs in the first.

In the bottom of the inning, Sydney Fowler had a line drive base hit up the middle to put a baserunner on for the Saints. Ariana Wright hit a two-run home run, scoring both herself and Fowler to put the Saints on the board early.

At the top of the second inning, Forrester had two strikeouts and escaped the inning giving up no runs, even though bases were loaded.

At the bottom of the second inning, Juliann Smith had a leadoff single to left field. Next, Karris Rhine was walked. With Anna Burnside up to bat, Smith was picked off on a fake bunt steal at third base, but Rhine advanced to second. Burnside then had an infield hit, moving Rhine to third base. Burnside then stole second putting two runners in scoring position. Both Rhine and Burnside tagged up on Alianna Mercado's sacrifice fly (Rhine scored one run). The score was 3-0 (Saints) moving into the third inning.

In the third inning, Forrester had one strikeout and gave up two hits. One of those hits was a solo homerun by Bri Weimer, putting the Falcons on the board (3-1 Saints).

Offensively, the Saints had one hit in the bottom of the third (Kamaya Cohen) but scored no runs.

In the top of the fourth inning, Mallory Forrester had one strikeout swinging, allowed two hits, and one run (3-2 Saints).

In the bottom of the fourth, Juliann Smith led with a double down the third base line. She stole third base on a fake bunt. Kerris Rhine had an RBI line drive to right field scoring Smith.  Rhine would eventually score on Kamaya Cohen's ground ball up the middle. The score was 5-2 at the end of the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Forrester gave up one hit, but allowed no runs.

At the bottom of the inning, the Saints had one hit and no runs. Madi Conway hit a double to the left field fence with no runners on and two outs. The Saints were unable to hit Conway in.

Mallory Forrester started on the mound in the sixth but was relieved by Peyton Bass. The Saints allowed one run in the sixth inning.

The Saints dominated the bottom of the sixth inning. Karris Rhine started the inning off with an infield single due to a throwing error. Alianna Mercado was walked, brining Sydney Fowler up to bat. Fowler hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Rhine and advancing Mercado to second base. Kamaya Cohen had a three-run homerun followed by Arianna Wright with a solo home run. The Saints scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

At the top of the seventh, the Saints allowed no hits or runs.

The final score of game two was 10-3 (Saints).

Up Next

The Saints will face Eastern Florida State College (away) on Thursday February 29^th for a double header. Game one will begin at 2:00PM and game two will begin at 4:00PM.