Softball team loses two games to No. 6 Santa Fe at home

The Eastern Florida State College softball team lost a pair of games to Santa Fe College in a battle of top 10 teams in the nation.

The Titans fell to 12-6 in the conference after the 6-3 and 4-3 losses to No. 6 Santa Fe College.

In the first game the Saints took an early 2-0 lead on a home run by Miranda Murch and scored two more in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead.

The Titans got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning as Martha Jones doubled to lead off the inning and then later scored to make it 4-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Titans would rally as Jaelynne Whipple hit a one-out single, then Kerissa Howell walked. With two out, Jones reached on an error that scored one run. Then Emma George walked to load the bases. Brooklyn Scott came up to pinch hit and drew a walk that scored the second run and made it 4-3.

But the Titans could not tie the game.

Santa Fe added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh and the Titans hit three straight singles but could not score any more runs, falling 6-3.

In Game 2 it was the Titans who jumped out to an early lead as they scored three times in the second inning as Whipple, Howell and Jessica Merk all singled and scored in the inning.

Santa Fe would score twice in the third inning and it would remain 3-2 until the top of the seventh inning.

The Saints came up big as Camryn VanGalder hit a two-run single to give Santa Fe a 4-3 lead.

Merk led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double and the Jones walked to put two on with nobody out. A failed bunt attempt left runners on first and second and Scott came up to pinch hit once again. She hit a line drive that Murch snagged at first base, stepped on the bag to record the double play and end the game.

Eastern Florida State College will travel to the College of Central Florida on Saturday for a conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Titans will return home on Tuesday for a home doubleheader against Seminole State College that will be shown live on WEFS-TV. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.