Santa Fe Saints Softball Takes Down No. 6 College of Central Florida 6-5

The Santa Fe Saints upset conference rival the College of Central Florida Patriots Tuesday. The Patriots were ranked No. 6 nationally heading into the game. The game stretched to nine innings with a final score of 6-5 with the Saints taking home the victory. Santa Fe improved to 27-17 with a Mid-Florida Conference record of 4-6. Meanwhile, the Patriots received their 10th loss of the year and fall to 8-2 in the conference.

Schnyder hustles around from first and Wright walks it off with a double!

The Saints down No. 6 College of Central Florida in nine innings from Gainesville. #SicEmSaints pic.twitter.com/sTIiDHbjdb

— Santa Fe Saints (@santafesaints) April 4, 2023

Taking Control

The Saints took an early 1-0 lead as Ariana Wright hit a home run in the first inning. The team scored another three runs in the second inning extending the lead to 4-0.

Playing To Your Strengths

The Patriots looked to take control of the game through their strength and speed. In the third inning, Avery Lawson hit a single to left field and Gianna Guerriero then hit a two-run home run over the right field fence to cut the Patriots deficit to 4-2.

Throughout the game, anytime CCF had runners on base, they were looking to steal. The team racked up six stolen bases over the course of the game with Megan Loftis leading the team with three. Although the Patriots’ speed gives them an advantage against everyone they play, the Saints were ready for it. They caught multiple baserunners attempting to steal throughout the game.

Later on in the third after Guerriero’s homerun, the Patriots had runners on the corners. Roberts went to steal second and did so successfully, as the Saints defense was too slow to react. However, this is when Loftis took off for home. The Saints managed to get the ball to catcher Abrianna Hickox who tagged Loftis out.

While this was happening, Roberts attempted to steal third. Hickox immediately threw to third baseman Story Giebeig where Roberts was tagged out for a double play.

 

Time Crunch

Heading into the sixth inning, the Saints continued to hold on to their two-run lead. THough, this would change after a base hit and back-to-back walks, loading the bases for the Patriots. With two outs, the Patriots tied the game after the Saints misplayed a pop-up, tying the game 4-4.

But the tie wouldn’t last long, as the Saints would take back the lead thanks to a RBI ground ball from Jayelyn Carter scoring Sydney Fowler.

In the top of the seventh, Loftis advanced to third after an errant throw. Then, Emily Konz delivered a two-out double to right field tying the game at five.

Extra Innings

No one would be able to get on base until the bottom of the ninth when the Saints came up to bat. Riley Schnyder drew a four pitch walk to begin the inning and Wright would then take her place in the batters box and was given the opportunity to end the game after starting it with a home run. On her fourth pitch, Wright hit a flyball to right field that would reach all the way to the fence. This would be an RBI triple, as Schnyder made her way home to end the game 6-5.

Saints Key Stats

Ariana Wright: 2B, HR, 2 RBI

Sydney Fowler: 2B (2)

Jayelyn Carter: 3RBI

Madi Hewett: Sac Fly, 1 RBI

Patriots Key Stats

Emily Konz: 2B, 1 RBI

Gianna Guerriero: HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB, CS

Avery Lawson: 2 RBI

Megan Loftis: 3 SB