#6 Saints split with #11 Eastern Florida
May 5, 2026

#6 Saints split with #11 Eastern Florida

Santa Fe secured a regular season second-place finish in the Citrus Conference with their win

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Gainesville, FL

Entering the day with a one game lead over #11 Eastern Florida (41-15, 27-13) for second place in the Citrus Conference, #6 Sante Fe (43-13, 28-12) hosted Eastern Florida for a doubleheader. The Saints took Game 1 4-2, but dropped the second game 8-5.

Game 1

The Saints took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to Molly Bender being hit by a pitch, Sydney English hitting a single to bring home Bender, and English scoring on a sacrifice fly by Ellie Frierson.

The Titans scored on an error in the top of the second, but the Saints responded with two more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead. Tegan Grizzard hit a leadoff single and was brought home by a Camryn VanGalder single, and VanGalder scored on a single by English.

Eastern Florida hit an RBI-single in the top of the fifth inning, but Santa Fe was able to hold on to secure the 4-2 victory as well as second place in the Citrus Conference.

Sydney English led the team with two hits and two RBIs, as well as drawing the lone walk of the game. Tegan Grizzard and Molly Bender both stole a base.

Belle Mancillas pitched the full game, recording six strikeouts in seven innings while giving up four hits, one walk, and two runs.

Game 2

Eastern Florida jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning on just two hits after they were able to capitalize on free passes.
 
Their lead was short lived as the Saints tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a pair of home runs by Mckenzie Cox and Ellie Frierson. 
 
In the top of the fifth, the Titans broke up the tie when Velazquez hit a solo home run to left field. Then a single by Otero followed to extend the lead to 7-4. A solo home run to left field in the top of the seventh added the eighth run.
 
Santa Fe scored one run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run to right field by Cox but were unable to push any more runs across and fell 8-5.
 
Velazquez earned the win for the Titans. The pitcher allowed two hits and one run over three innings, striking out none and walking one. Morgyn Stevens took the loss for Santa Fe. The hurler went five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits, striking out none and walking one. Chloe Woods led things off in the circle for Santa Fe, allowing three hits and four runs over one inning, striking out one and walking one. Mills stepped in the circle first for Titans. The righty surrendered two hits and three runs over three innings, striking out none and walking three.
 
Frierson provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Santa Fe with three runs batted in going 1-for-3 on the day. Despite dropping the game, Santa Fe takes the series 3-1 after sweeping the Titans earlier this season in Melbourne. Additionally, the Saints have earned sole possession of second place in the Citrus Conference with a win in Game 1.
 
Up Next

Santa Fe will await their opponent for the FCSAA State Tournament, which begins next Tuesday, May 12th in Clearwater, FL. The Saints are looking to secure a top four seed in the state but will learn their place when the state tournament seeding committee comes out with the bracket later this week. They will begin play on Wednesday, May 13th at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.

Once the tournament schedule releases, it will be available here and on the FCSAA website after the regular season ends.