March 15, 2019 – The Santa Fe Saints softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep over Mid-Florida Conference rival Lake Sumter State College by scores of 3-1 and 9-2 Thursday afternoon in Leesburg.
Gabi Mathre (8-7) allowed just two hits over six innings in the opener to earn the win and Donnie Gobourne earned her first save of the season striking out the side in the seventh.
“Our pitchers did a better job of staying in control of the count,” said SF head coach Lindsay Fico. “They worked ahead in the count and did a better job limiting walks.”
Gobourne also delivered the big hit of game one with a three-run triple in the first inning.
The Saints took advantage of some errors to get an early 5-0 lead in the nightcap and Jamie Adams (3-1) and Tihana Zupanic combined to limit the Lake Hawks to two unearned runs and just two hits with Adams getting the win.
“Gabi and Jamie extended their innings allowing us to close out games much easier today,” said Fico.
Karina Ortiz-Munoz continued to set the table for the Saints offense, going 4-for-8 with four runs scored out of the leadoff spot in the lineup. The freshman out of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico is 8-for-16 since taking over the leadoff role from sophomore Kaitlyn Bennett four games ago. Bennett seems to be enjoying the switch as well and is hitting .400 since the swap including three hits Thursday.
“Karina hit the ball hard all day,” said Fico. “I love the way she carries herself in the box. Her at-bats set the tone for the rest of the lineup.”
The Saints (15-17, 3-3 MFC) will have the weekend off before traveling to Daytona to take on the Falcons in a doubleheader scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19.
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