After losing a home doubleheader earlier in the week, the Santa Fe College softball team redeemed itself, sweeping a doubleheader with Lake Sumter Community College on Thursday.
The No. 2 Saints (35-5, 10-4 Mid-Florida Conference) took both against the Lakers by scores of 7-1 and 4-0.
"We played together as a team," freshman outfielder Morgan Fortson said. "We can't lose any more games in the conference. No one can beat us if we play like we know how."
In Game 1, sophomore Nadirah Nesfield started up the Saints' offense with a hard shot to left field. Nesfield scored the first run of the game on a double from sophomore shortstop Lawna Hunter. Fortson went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs.
"(They) hit the ball a lot better," coach Chris Ahern said. "It was a good bounce back (from Tuesday's loss to Seminole Community College). They were in good spirits today."
Game 2 began much like the first, with a ground ball up the middle from Fortson driving in sophomore outfielder Brittany Cannon. The Lakers played tight defense on the Saints, keeping them from scoring again until the fifth.
Freshman second baseman Carissa Albizu was on top of her defensive game. Albizu had a diving stop that she turned into a double play to get the lead runner and also had an unassisted double play in the top of the second.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Nesfield hit a line drive down the right-field line for a triple with 2 RBIs. Nesfield went 2 for 3 and two RBIs in the second game.
Freshman Kimberly Squires (18-3, 0.71 ERA) and sophomore Ashley Schmitt (16-2, 0.61 ERA) held the Lakers to just seven and five hits in the first and second games, respectively.
"We knew they were a good team," third baseman Kristina Cruz said. "We just came back. We need to keep our heads up. We had a good practice yesterday, and the cheering in the dugout definitely helped us."
