Santa Fe jumped out to a huge lead on Thursday and held on to beat Gainesville, 9-7, at Boulware Ballpark.
The Raiders (15-1) won their 10th game in a row and swept the season series from the rival Hurricanes, after winning the first meeting 7-6 in Alachua on Feb. 27.
This game was similar to the first meeting, with Santa Fe jumping out to a lead and holding off Gainesville late.
Santa Fe scored three runs in the first inning against Gainesville starting pitcher McKenna O’Sullivan (8-4).
Maren Hornsby led off with a single, then stole second. With one out, senior J’lyn Guyden came through with a single to center for a 1-0 Raiders lead. Ainslea Kelsoe then doubled to put runners at second and third with one out, and Madolyn Jablonski hit a sacrifice fly to left for a 2-0 advantage. Breleigh Ford then brought in courtesy runner Catie Bell with another single to center for a 3-0 lead.
“They (GHS) always have good bats, and they come to battle with us,” Guyden said. “It’s a big rivalry, and I feel like we battled as a team and kept our composure late when they got back in the game.”
Gainesville got a run back in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 3-1. But Santa Fe came right back with a huge second inning.
The Raiders scored five runs on five hits in the second as Guyden and Kelsoe added back-to-back two-run singles, and Ford added another RBI single for an 8-1 Santa Fe lead.
“It’s good to know there are a lot of good options behind me in the order,” Guyden said. “It does take a lot of pressure off you, and everyone can hit.”
O’Sullivan settled down after the second and held Santa Fe to only one run the rest of the game.
Gainesville put together a five-run fifth inning to close the gap to 8-7. Three hits, two walks, and two Santa Fe errors led to the frame. Adriana Koralewski, Lili Overstreet, and Lana Renicks drove in runs for the Hurricanes (10-7).
But Santa Fe senior pitcher Makenna Payne replaced freshman starter Ryleigh Davis and shut down Gainesville for the rest of the game.
“We did a good job of keeping our heads in the game and staying focused,” Gainesville coach Chris Chronister said. “We put ourselves in position to make it a game and compete and try to get the win. They are a good team and we are a good team.”
