For the first time since 2012 the Mid-Florida Conference baseball championship is back in Gainesville. The NJCAA #1/FCSAA #1 Santa Fe Saints clinched their sixth title in the last ten years under Coach Johnny Wiggs by defeating the Daytona State College Falcons 6-3. The win also ties the 2016 Saints for the most wins in school history. They now sit at 37-6 overall and 18-3 in MFC play with three regular season games remaining.
The Saints overcame a season high seven errors and Kyle Morton (6-2) worked out of jams created by those errors to turn in six innings of five hit ball. He struck out eight before turning it over the Robert Girgis and Ricky Miranda for one out each. SF closer Troy Bacon closed out the final 2.1 innings, earning his 13th save of the season, tying Rene Guerra (2007) for the most in a season in Santa Fe history.
Santa Fe broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth when Brandon Hernandez blasted a home run through the wind off the scoreboard to make it 4-3. Tyler Kinney and Matt Allen followed with singles and Hugo Valdes was intentionally walked.
Haydn Cano singled through the hole at shortstop to give SF a 5-3 lead and Stephen Smith drew a bases loaded walk for the sixth run of the game.
SF pitching was rock solid the rest of the way, shutting out the Falcons to clinch the MFC title.
Smith and Allen had two hits each and Hernandez had two RBI.
The Saints next game will be today, April 18 in Palatka against St. John’s River State College at 6:00 PM.
For complete schedules, stats, and more information please visit www.santafesaints.com