Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe improved to (7-3) overall after splitting with South Florida State (4-4) in their douybleheader on Saturday.

The Panthers scored seven runs in the seventh inning, which helped them put away the  Saints 12-3 in the first game.

A double play put South Florida State College on the board in the top of the first. Then Noah Hayse hit a sacrifice fly, which helped Santa Fe tie the game at one in the bottom of the first.

South Florida State jumped back into the lead in the top of the second inning after Elijah Harrel walked, and Gabriel Borges grounded into a fielder's choice, each scoring one run. South Florida State extended their early lead with two runs in the top of the third thanks to home runs by Cole Sofge and Justin Mercado.

Seven runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning was too much for the Saints to handle. Ross Ray singled, scoring one run, Borges singled, scoring two runs, Avery Anderson singled, scoring one run, Landon Carter drew a walk, scoring one run, and Sofge doubled, scoring two runs.

Gehrig Graham earned the win for South Florida State College. The starter surrendered five hits and two runs over six innings, striking out two and walking two. Kolten Leach took the loss for Santa Fe. The starter went one and one-third innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit, striking out none and walking four.

Ryan Chase led Santa Fe with two hits in three at bats. Hayse and J.P. Espinosa each drove in one run for Santa Fe. 

Game two was a much different story as the Saints dominated in every aspect of the game.

Akhil Nimmala drove in four runs on three hits to lead Santa Fe to a 19-5 win. Nimmala kept his blazing bat going with a home run to right field in the second inning, scoring two runs, and singled in the fourth inning, scoring two.

Santa Fe scored 14 runs in the second inning on the way to victory.  Wyatt Tesar singled, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Hayden Montanez drew a walk, scoring one run, Maddox Lee doubled, scoring two runs, Ryan Chase singled, scoring two runs, Nimmala homered to right field, scoring two runs, Tesar singled, scoring two runs, Montanez singled, scoring two runs, and Lee hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run.

A double by Ross Ray put South Florida State College on the board in the top of the second.

Santa Fe scored five runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lee singled, scoring one run, Nimmala singled, scoring two runs, Samuel Castillo singled, scoring one run, and Matt Hall singled, scoring one run.

Easton McMahan earned the win for Santa Fe. The hurler surrendered five hits and four runs (three earned) over four innings, striking out five and walking three. Brady Ham took the loss for South Florida State College. James Suarez, Caleb Clanton, and Dylan Lovelace each threw scoreless innings for Santa Fe Saints in relief.

Santa Fe totaled 16 hits in the game. Nimmala and Tesar each collected three of them. Montanez, Hall, and Castillo each collected two.

Santa Fe travels to Tallahassee State College on Tuesday for their next game; first pitch at 3:00pm.