Weather Uproots Santa Fe College Softball’s Chance To Split Doubleheader

The Santa Fe College Saints softball team lost Game 1 of its doubleheader to the visiting Seminole State Raiders, 4-3. Game 2 was postponed to a later date due to lightning in the area Tuesday afternoon.

It was Santa Fe’s third loss to the Raiders this season, 1-0 and 6-1, respectively, on Feb. 25. The Saints (23-15, 13-10 Mid-Florida Conference) used a strong fifth inning to take lead, but were unable to hold on to it.

In the top of the second inning, first baseman Julianna Nieves homered over the left field wall to give Seminole State an early 1-0 lead.

Julianna Nieves hits a solo shot to make it 1-0 Raiders. T2 pic.twitter.com/mJfQYF9VIX

— James McDonald (@ImJamesMcDonald) April 1, 2025

The Raiders (30-10, 13-8) added to their lead in the fourth with an RBI single by Jaleigha Harris that put them up 2-0. This inning also saw an umpire meeting over a possible obstruction call at home plate. The runner was originally called out, but Raiders coach Abbie Millete was confident it was obstruction. The umpires maintained the call and the Raiders left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Saints Storm Back

In the bottom of the fifth, Camryn VanGalder reached base on a single and a sacrifice bunt advanced her to second base. After Rylie Blankenship reached first base on an error to put runners on the corners with two outs.

Karris Rhine then drove the first pitch she saw to the left field wall to tie the game with a two-RBI double. The hit that was inches short of being a homer. Another RBI double by Madison Conway drove Rhine across the plate and give the Saints the lead.

Karris Rhine misses a go-ahead 3-run HR by INCHES and ties it up 2-2. Madison Conway drives Rhine in with a single and it’s 3-2 Saints with 2 down in the bottom of the 5th. @ESPNGainesville @sfsaintssb @santafesaints @jonathandjamess pic.twitter.com/ehQaibPBxF

— James McDonald (@ImJamesMcDonald) April 1, 2025

The Saints didn’t have the lead long thanks to a double by Mackenzie Eland that drove in two runs and put the Raiders up 4-3. Raiders pitcher Shaylen Byrd pitched a complete game and closed it out with a strikeout, her fourth of the game.

Up Next

The Saints travel to Eastern Florida State College (26-14, 11-11) in Melbourne on Thursday for a doubleheader that starts at 2 p.m. The Raiders head home to face Florida Southwestern for a doubleheader Thursday.