Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe sweeps visiting Hillsborough in their midweek conference doubleheader in Gainesville. Here's what happened:

Ryleigh Bauer made the start in Game 1 and found herself in many battles with the Hillsborough hitters. The Hawks loaded the bases in the first inning, but Bauer was able to escape without allowing any damage. Hillsborough seemed to have control of the game early on, however that was until the 7, 8 and 9 hitters were due up in the bottom of the third inning. Tegan Grizzard started off the inning by dropping a beautiful bunt down the third base line for a hit. Camryn VanGalder added an infield single and a double steal on the next pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Karris Rhine drove home both runs with a double, and she crossed the plate herself after a sacrifice fly by McKenzie Jewell made it a 3-0 Saints advantage. Bauer escaped a bases loaded jam again in the fourth inning keeping Hillsborough scoreless through 4 but ended her day after HCC led off the fifth inning with back-to-back homeruns to cut the lead after 5 innings to 3-2. Belle Mancillas came in in the middle of the fourth inning for relief, doing her part in shutting down all remaining Hawk offense and keeping them at two runs for the remainder of the game. Santa Fe finally broke it open in the bottom of the 5th inning, pushing 4 across in the frame and securing a 7-2 advantage. The Saints tallied 5 total hits in the inning, including doubles by Madison Conway and Tegan Grizzard. Belle Mancillas earns the save, keeping HCC scoreless in her 4 innings of work. 

Alexis Daphney got the nod in the circle and started strong for the Saints in the Game 2. She sent down Hillsborough in order to allow the offense a chance to strike first. The Santa Fe bats wasted no time making their mark, as a 5-spot in the first inning kickstarted an offensive onslaught of the Hawks. Olivia Lameau singled to score 2 to start the inning for Santa Fe, with Sydney English not far behind belting a bases clearing double that drove in 3 Saint baserunners and pushed the lead after one to 5-0. Two more runs were added in the bottom of the second inning courtesy of Olivia Lameau and Brooke Markiewicz singles. Hillsborough answered the Saints in the top of the third inning adding three runs and cutting their deficit to 7-3. Sydney English continued her great day at the plate, adding a no doubter 2-run Home Run in the third. That was not all for the Santa Fe offense, as they plate two more in the frame to grow the lead to eight with an 11-3 score. Karris Rhine (3-run) and Madison Conway (2-run) each had Home Runs in the 4th inning for Santa Fe, seemingly closing the door on any HCC hopes of a late-inning comeback on the road. Ryleigh Bennett gets the save in Game 2, going 3-up and 3-down to close the game in the fifth inning. Santa Fe only needed 5 innings to put away the Hawks and Game 2, securing the sweep and their 5th win in a row. 

Santa Fe will visit Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Florida this Saturday, March 8th for two games beginning at 1:00 PM.