Grace Prom hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the Saints past Palm Beach State Saturday evening at the JUCO Kickoff Classic. The win left the Saints undefeated on the weekend with wins over Fayetteville Tech. (17-3), Abraham Baldwin (6-4), Gulf Coast State College (9-1) and PBSC (6-5).

"I couldn't have asked for a better way to start the season," said SF head coach Lindsay Fico. "These girls showed a lot of heart and will to win. But considering how hard they have worked all fall, I wouldn't expect different."

Friday Game Summaries

The Saints scored early and often in their season opening win over Fayetteville Tech. Karina Ortiz-Munoz and Grace Prom supplied most of the offense with Ortiz-Munoz collecting four hits in four at bats with four runs scored and two runs batted in out of the leadoff spot while Prom was a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI including her first home run of the year with one on in the first.

Jaye Carter was 2-for-3 with two runs scored as the Saints pounded out 13 hits.

"Grace Prom started her collegiate career with a 2-run HR and has established herself as a leader in the box who can produce runs with runners in scoring position," said Fico. "Karina Ortiz-Munoz is the spark at the top of our order who sets the tone of every game. Her ability to work the count and find a way on base allows the rest of our lineup to settle in much faster."

Sophomore Donnie Gobourne (1-0) earned the win with three hitless innings to start the game. She retired nine of the 10 batters she faced with seven strikeouts.

"Donnie dominated the zone from the first pitch. She was extremely impressive especially considering it rained most of the game," said Fico.

A six-run sixth inning powered the Saints to a 6-4 win over Abraham Baldwin in their second game of the day. Once again it was Ortiz-Munoz and Prom doing much of the damage. Ortiz-Munoz was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in while Prom was 2-for-3 with two RBI.

The Saints trailed early but never felt they were out of the game.

"I was impressed with the entire team's mindset in the midst of a 4-0 deficit." Said Fico. "They never lost focus and capitalized on opportunities late in the game to put themselves in a position to win. Once Cris Beasley settled in, she kept ABAC's  hitters off balance changing speeds in the zone. She kept her composure in the circle despite a shaky first inning," said Fico.

Prom put the Saints on the scoreboard with a two-run single in the sixth and Gobourne and Dara Gaylard drove in run before Ortiz-Munoz closed out the scoring with a two-run, bases loaded single.

Beasley worked the first five innings in the circle for the Saints, allowing just two earned runs and striking out five. Gobourne (2-0) earned the win, setting down all six batters she faced in the sixth and seventh innings, four via strikeouts.

"Laila Dickey and Dara Gaylard came in off the bench and had two of the best at bats of the entire day" said Fico.

Saturday Game Summaries

The Saints jumped out to an early 4-0 lead thanks in part to a three-run home run by Gobourne, her first round tripper of the year. The Saints sealed the deal with four more runs in the sixth with Savana Terry, Ortiz-Munoz, Jaye Carter and Gobourne driving in runs.

"Donnie's homerun in the first was massive. Our entire lineup executed throughout the whole game and never let up," said Fico.

Gobourne was the starting pitcher for the Saints, but Beasley (1-0) earned her first collegiate win with five innings of work. The freshman out of Columbia High School allowed just one run on two hits and registered four strikeouts.

"Cris Beasley came in and shut down Gulf Coast's bats. She and Savana Terry were extremely efficient with their overall game plan," said Fico

Prom's game winning home run was her second of the weekend and her seventh hit in 15 at bats over the four games.

"Grace Prom started the weekend with a homerun and ended her weekend with a walk-off home run. We anticipate big things from her all year," said Fico.

Gobourne started and went three innings giving way to Morgan Lebeda (1-0) to start the fourth. Lebeda, a freshman out of Deltona High School, was roughed up for four runs in the sixth. Beasley (2-0) entered the game in the sixth with two outs to record the final out of the inning. She pitched out of a jam in the seventh to set the stage for Prom's game winner and earn the win.

"Our pitching staff had their first bit of adversity but found a way to get the job done together," said Fico.

The Saints (4-0) will host Tallahassee CC for their home opener doubleheader on Tuesday with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 2 pm.

Saints Batting Leaders

Saints Pitching Wins