Tampa, FL - On Tuesday, the Saints traveled to Hillsborough Community College in Tampa to take on the Hawks in a Citrus Conference match up.  The Saints entered Tuesday's match up sitting in fourth in the conference while Hillsborough is next to last in eleventh place.  The Saints beat the Hawks in both round one games in Gainesville in March by the run rule.  Tuesday's match up which has no bearing on the state tournament was much closer with the Saints winning game one 2-0 and forcing extra innings to get the win in game two 3-1.  The Saints record moves to 27-13 in the Citrus Conference and 36-19 overall.

How It Happened – Game One

Mallory Forrester started strong in the circle for the Saints and never looked back.  She pitched all seven innings, gave up no runs and struck out seven.  Multiple players scattered hits across the board for the Saints throughout the game but their first run came on from a Hillsborough error. 

The Saints were able to add an insurance run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Alexis Daphney.  Madison Conway registered a double in the game as well and two runs is all the Saints would need to back up the stellar pitching performance by Forrester.

The Saints won game one 2-0 with Sydney Fowler, Ari Wright, Madi Conway, Anna Burnside, and Daphney all collecting one hit.  Santa Fe finishes the complete game shutout like game two in Gainesville back in March.

How It Happened – Game Two

Santa Fe pitcher Ryleigh Bauer got the predictable start in game two and didn't disappoint.  She pitched nine innings of the extra inning battle and struck out eleven.  Peyton Bass finished up the tenth inning for the Saints as they won 3-1.  Hillsborough led after the bottom of one due to a Saints error.  The Saints would remain down until the top of seven when they tied it up 1-1.  A Sydney Fowler single helped pushed the Saints run across.

In extra innings, both the Saints and Hawks were unable to push any runners across the plate until the top of ten when the Saints exploded. Two doubles and single pushed one run across each for the Saints.  Karris Rhine and Madi Conway are credited with the doubles and Jules Smith singled.  The Saints took the final lead 3-1.  The Saints bats were alive in game two giving them eleven hits.  Conway went 3 for 5 from the plate and Annissa Quinonez was productive from the plate as she went 2 for 3.

The Saints finished the day 2-0 and finished the season series with Hillsborough by winning all four games. The Saints are now 36-19 overall and 27-13 and in fourth place in the conference heading into a double header at Miami Dade College on Thursday.  The Saints have officially qualified for the FCSAA Region VIII tournament in Clearwater, Florida in May.  This will be their first appearance in three years, and they will await the seeding call to know their game time.  In the meantime, the Saints will finish at home on Saturday versus Miami Dade with a start of noon. 

Up Next at Santa Fe at HOME

On Saturday, April 27^th, the Saints will play Miami Dade at Noon and 2:00 in their last home double header of the year.