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By Izzy McGarvey and Regan Roberts
Starting Mid-Florida Conference play on March 8th, the Saints hoped to come away with their twentieth and twenty-first wins of the season against the St. Petersburg Titans. In their previous matchup, the Saints rolled over the Titans with a final score of 17-0. The Saints topped the Titans 6-2 in the first game of the doubleheader with a strong performance from pitcher Jacob Phillips and again in the second game 7-6 with a walk-off home run from JP Herrolz.
Strong Start for Saints
The Saints came out swinging in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday. They scored early in the first inning with a run and added on another in the third, making it 2-0 Saints. With no response from the Titans, the Saints scored two more in the fourth, increasing their lead to 4-0.
Titans Response
In the fifth inning, St. Petersburg answered with a solo home run from Jacob Von Thaden to make it 4-1. They continued their push with a single from Marcus Sanders, then back-to-back walks for Coltin Pizzio and Chris Serrano. Sanders got picked off trying to steal third base, but that didn’t phase the Titans as a three-run home run by Kelsen Johnson made it a 4-4 game.
The Saints responded in the bottom of the 5th to take the lead 5-4 courtesy of a solo home run from Drake Harman. But, St. Petersburg wasn’t done yet. They loaded the bases with three singles from Von Thaden, Sanders and Pizzio. Chad Baker produced a 2-RBI single to score Von Thaden and Sanders. St Petersburg took the 5-6 lead.
Fantastic Finish
The Saints looked to take control in the seventh inning when Drake Harman generated a single. Up next to bat was JP Herrholz who hit the game-winning home run. The walk-off home run by Herrholz won the game 7-6, and the Saints record improved to 21-1, their best start in program history.
A Herrholz two-run homer to win it in walk-off fashion! #SicEmSaints pic.twitter.com/A2xqeTE93y
— Santa Fe Saints (@santafesaints) February 25, 2023
On Monday, the Santa Fe Saints will travel to play FSCJ, which they previously beat on February 10th with a score of 14-13. On Wednesday, the Saints will play Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, which they also previously beat on February 16, 10-3. The Saints will then have a week off before they start Mid-Florida Conference play on Wednesday, March 8th against Seminole State.
