GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the 2022 home opener for Santa Fe Softball, the Saints claimed two narrow victories over the Hillsborough Hawks, 4-3 and 9-8.

GAME 1 – SANTA FE 4, HILLSBOROUGH 3

The Saints went ahead 2-0 with single runs in the third and fourth inning.

Jayelyn Carter led off the third with a double, then touched home on an RBI from Riley Schnyder.

Story Giebeig accounted for the run in the fourth, crushing a solo shot to center field.

The Hawks accounted for the game's next three runs, however, taking the 3-2 lead headed into the SF at-bats the bottom of the sixth.

The SF rally started with a double from Olivia Larkin, who was then brought to third on a sacrifice. The Saints were in danger of stranding her until Keeli Zingaro smacked a two-out, two-run jack over the center field fence.

Starting pitcher Sophie Abrams finished off the complete game in the seventh inning, setting down Hillsborough in order.

Abrams only allowed five hits, and just one of her three runs allowed were earned, She struck out eight to claim the win from the circle.

Santa Fe had five hits from five different bats and were powered by the long balls from Giebeig and Zingaro.

GAME 2  - SANTA FE 9, HILLSBOROUGH 8 (6 INN.)

Hillsborough started the second game well and produced the game's first five runs after two innings played.

SF got right back into it, however, when Giebeig struck again in the bottom of the third.

After the bases were loaded, Giebeig connected for a no-doubter grand slam to clear the bases and bring the deficit to just one.

Hillsborough had a response though and went ahead 8-4 in the fourth.

As daylight started to dwindle, the Saints got the runs they needed to tie the game at 8-8 in the fifth. Abrianna Hickox had a hard-hit grounder into left field for an RBI, and in the next at-bat with the bases loaded, Carter earned a walk. With two-outs, Brooke Hackim's line drive single to center field drove in two to tie it up.

In the top of the 6th, Abrams entered in relief and got a K for the third out. As 6:00 p.m. rolled around in Gainesville, umpires met with the coaches regarding the impending darkness, and it was determined the SF bats would have one more chance for a walk-off to conclude the sixth.

Larkin doubled to lead off, and advanced to third after a well-executed sacrifice bunt. Who better to have at the plate than Giebeig, and the Hawks seemingly decided to pitch around her instead of offering the free base.

The Saints benefitted from that decision, and Larkin strided home for the winning run after a high pitch from the Hawks that got away.

Kaylie Araujo was the starting pitcher and made it through 3.2 innings, giving way to Calen Hayes. Abrams was the winner after getting the final K prior to the walkoff.

Larkin and Giebeig represented the only two extra-base hits for SF with the double, and grand slam, respectively.

Up Next

Santa Fe (4-2) will host Florida State College at Jacksonville on Saturday, Feb. 5, with Game 1 of the doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 p.m.