January 29, 2018 – The FCSAA #9 Santa Fe Saints put up 21 over three games at the Leadoff Classic Saturday in Clearwater, picking up three big wins along the way to start the season 3-0. The Saints trailed going into the bottom of the seventh in two of the three games and forced extra innings both times, winning in walk off fashion in the eighth in both contests.
SF fell behind 2-0 in the first game of the day against Polk State College, but rattled off 10 straight runs over five innings to end the game in mercy rule fashion 10-2.
Bailee Moll was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, Haissette Escudero was 2-for-2 with three runs, a double and two RBI. Kaylan Tucker started in the circle and went the distance for her first win of the season.
In the second game of the day Abraham Baldwin scored three runs in the first inning, but the Saints tied the game in the seventh on a two RBI single by Kaitlyn Bennett with the bases loaded, sending it to extra innings.
ABAC regained the lead in the eighth but it was short-lived. In the bottom of the frame, needing a run to keep the game going, Adriana Garip put two on the board with a pinch hit, one out single, plating Escudero and Moll for the walk off win.
Kaitlyn Bennett lead the offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Jamie Adams (1-0) pitched all eight innings with five strikeouts for the win.
The third game of the day played itself out much like the second, with the Saints needing a late inning rally for the win.
Palm Beach State College scored three runs in the first inning to put SF in a hole early on, but SF fought back and tied the game up again after seven innings.
SF held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the eighth, setting up another walk off win. In the bottom of the eighth Raeyle Rouw knocked in Kaylan Tucker from third with a ground ball to second base, giving SF their third win of the day.
Tucker (2-0) earned her second win of the day, this time in a relief appearance of Tihana Zupanic. Kaitlyn Bennett had another solid game from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Bailee Moll, Emily Yakel, and Rouw had two hits each.
The Saints had no trouble Sunday afternoon in their home opener, cruising past the University of Puerto Rico 15-0 and 20-1. Both games ended after the top of the fifth inning.
Haissette Escudero led the offense in the first game, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a double. All nine starting players for the Saints had at least one hit.
Jamie Adams picked up the win in the circle for her second win of the year.
In the second game of the double header the Saints plated 13 runs in the second inning in route to a 20-1 victory.
Adriana Garip, Cameron Trehy, Guilia Fiorentini, and Sophia Negron had two hits each and Haissette Escudero knocked in three runs. Kaylan Tucker was the winner in the circle, her third win of the season.
Next up for SF is a trip to Avon Park Saturday, Feb. 3 to battle South Florida State College in a double header starting at 1 p.m.
For complete schedules, stats, and more information please visit santafesaints.com.