ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF
As the spring season comes to a close, the Santa Fe Saints are determined to finish strong. Saints softball notched an impressive sweep of St. Petersburg College last Tuesday. Shortly after, Saints baseball crushed St. Petersburg in a series sweep on Saturday. The Saints are dedicated to finishing the 2024-2025 season on a high note.
Saints Softball on Fire
The Santa Fe softball team was explosive last week with a doubleheader sweep of the Titans. Both games were run-rule victories with scores of 10-2 and 12-2, and ended after five innings.
In game one, St. Petersburg got on the board first with a two-run top of the first. Sophomore center fielder Karris Rhine was the first to score with a solo home run. In the second, the Saints scored six runs and combined with a run in the fourth, they jumped to a quick 8-2 lead. Sophomore outfielder Madison Conway finished the game with a walk-off home run in the fifth inning. Sophomore pitcher Ryleigh Bauer led her team, only allowing three hits and two runs, while striking out three.
In game two, the bottom of the first saw an exhilarating performance by the Saints, putting up nine runs. In the top of the fourth, the Titans scored two runs. In bottom of the fourth, however, the Saints added three runs.
Following a week-long break, the Saints head to Ocala, Florida, to play the College of Central Florida (22-26) in a doubleheader on Tuesday. Four days later, Santa Fe will travel to Fort Pierce to play Indian River State College (37-6) on Saturday.
Baseball Fights Back Hard
In a doubleheader against the St. Petersburg Titans (9-36), the Santa Fe baseball team (23-24) followed in softball’s footsteps and were victorious. In game one, the Saints were down 8-0 after the top of the first. The bottom saw the Saints surge back to score three runs. The Titans responded and added one in the top of the second. Finally, the Saints picked things up, scoring two in the second inning, one in the third, four in the fourth and another in the fifth. Santa Fe won 11-9, picking up a series win.
In game two, Santa Fe took an early lead, scoring a run in the second inning, two in the third and four in the fourth. In the top of the fifth, the Titans hit a two-run home run. In the bottom of the inning, the Saints added four more runs to take an 11-2 lead and a win by the run rule. Freshman pitcher Matthew Pagan allowed four hits and two runs, and he also struck out three and walked one. In freshman outfielder Javier Soto’s second game back from injury, he had three runs and drove one home.
Multiple players had multi-hit performances including sophomore infielders Robert Nedry and Trey Freeman, freshman first baseman Ryan Chase, redshirt sophomore outfielder Erik Blair and freshman catcher Tucker Hansen. Blair had two RBIs and drove in three runs, while Chase drove home two. Freshman outfielder Aiden Andreu launched the first home run of his college career.
The Saints improved their record to 23-24 and hold a three-game win streak going into Thursday’s game against Hillsborough Community College (18-29). On Saturday, the Saints will play their last two games against Hillsborough Community College to end the regular season.
