April 30, 2019 – After winning three games apiece over the Mid-Florida Conference season and two MFC tournament games it will all come down to a seventh game in Gainesville between the Santa Fe Saints and St. Johns River Vikings Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the winner moving on to the FCSAA State Tournament.
The Vikings (35-16, 15-9 MFC) evened the best-of-three series with a 3-1 win Monday afternoon in Palatka.
The Saints (36-15, 16-8 MFC) had their opportunities Monday, twice leaving the bases loaded with less than two outs without scoring. SF stranded 13 runners in the game.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it,” said SF head coach Johnny Wiggs. “Twice we left the bases loaded with less than two outs and didn’t score either time.”
Chase Malloy, who has hit Saints pitching well all season, broke a scoreless tie with a two-run home run in the fifth and the Vikings would push another run across to take a 3-0 lead.
Cade Westbrook got the Saints on the board in the seventh when he singled home Jonathan Logsdon who had walked to lead off the inning.
Anthony Arguelles (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season despite pitching well for six innings. Brooks Walton pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
“I thought Arguelles did a really good job competing, but one bad pitch hurt us again,” said Wiggs. “Walton’s two scoreless innings gave us a chance.”
Garrett Mathes had three of the Saints seven hits while Westbrook extended his hitting streak to 19 Games.
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