The 2026 season started at 10:00am against Walters State Community College, and the Saints won 13-10. The Saints returned to action at 2:00pm, ending the day with an 8-7 victory over St. Johns River State College.

Game 1 (vs Walters State Community College)

Sydney English drove in five runs on two hits to lead the Santa Fe Saints past the Walters State Senators on Friday. English hit a sacrificy fly in the first inning to bring in a run, and hit a grand slam in the second inning to score four more.

Both offenses were strong at the plate, as the Saints collected 11 hits and the Senators had six hits in the high-scoring affair.

The Saints got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Miranda Murch walked, English hit a sacrifice fly, Camryn VanGalder singled down the left field line, and Tegan Grizzard doubled down the left field line, each scoring one run.

The Senators scored one run in the top of the second on a solo home run to right field by Kacey Pillion.

The Saints scored four runs again in the bottom of the second on a grand slam to center field by English.

Alayna Ross homered to center field, scoring two runs in the top of the third for the Senators.

The Senators took a 9-8 lead in the top of the fifth after Brenna Hunley singled to center field, Addison Beech flew out, and Lauren Ruehl walked, each scoring one run.

Santa Fe flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits to take the lead 13-9. The biggest blow in the inning was a ground out by Kadence Compton, which drove in two runs.

Morgyn Stevens earned the win for the Saints. Stevens walked one batter but gave up zero hits and one run (zero earned) over two innings. Allie Jones took the loss for the Senators. Jones went two-thirds of an inning, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out none and walking one. Belle Mancillas stepped in the circle first for the Saints, surrendering six hits and nine runs (one earned) over five innings, accumulating nine strikeouts and seven walks. Lauren Ruehl stepped in the circle first for the Senators, allowing three hits, two walks, and four runs over one inning.

Santa Fe piled up 11 hits in the game. Mckenzie Cox set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading the Saints with three hits in five at-bats. Grizzard and VanGalder both collected multiple hits, and Molly Bender recorded three walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, tallying 10 walks for the game. Cox stole four bases, and the Saints stole seven bases in the game.

Game 2 (vs St. John Rivers State College)

Santa Fe grabbed the victory in walk-off fashion, 8-7 over the St. Johns River State Vikings. The game was tied at seven in the bottom of the ninth when Jesse Frierson hit a sacrifice fly to secure the walk-off.

Molly Bender collected three hits in four at-bats, including a solo home run in the first inning, a single in the fifth inning, and a double in the ninth inning.

Juliet Fogel of the Vikings homered to left field, which tied the game at one in the top of the second.

A triple by Miranda Murch gave the Saints the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the second.

The Vikings jumped into the lead in the top of the third when Jenelle Cruz doubled, scoring one run. Crimson Lawrence hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored, and Emma Shipley homered to center field, scoring two runs.

Murch hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth for the Saints, and Shipley responded with a solo home run of her own in the top of the fifth.

Frierson homered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs for the Saints.

Murch walked, which helped Santa Fe tie the game at six in the bottom of the seventh.

A double by Carly Dall gave the Vikings the lead 7-6 in the top of the ninth. Santa Fe regained the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning after Bender doubled to center field and Frierson hit a sacrifice fly, securing the 8-7 victory for the Saints.

Skyler Alverez earned the win for the Saints. The reliever surrendered two hits and two runs (one earned) over six and one-third innings, striking out five and walking one. Chloe Woods stepped in the circle first for the Saints, giving up four hits and five runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking two. Lawrence began the game for the Vikings, surrendering eight hits and five runs over six innings, striking out three and walking none.

Frierson led Santa Fe with three runs batted in, while Haylee McCrea and Murch both collected multiple hits.

Up Next

The Saints will return to action on Thursday, February 5th when they host a doubleheader against Florida State College at Jacksonville, with pitch times at 1:00pm and 3:00pm.