After a convincing 9-2 win against Central Florida Community College in Ocala last week and with its ace starting on the mound, Santa Fe Community College was feeling good about Monday afternoon's tilt against those same Patriots.
But the usually reliable Andy Mee was not as sharp as he normally is, finally faltering in the fifth inning and giving up four earned runs in the frame as the Saints (20-13, 6-4 Mid Florida Conference) fell 11-3 to the Patriots.
"We've had the tendency when we've lost of giving up the big inning," SFCC coach Johnny Wiggs said.
That's exactly what happened on Monday. Mee (4-2, 3.97 ERA) fought through the first four frames and gave up one unearned run.
SFCC got off to a good start offensively as well, taking a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning.
But after striking out the first batter in the fifth, Mee walked two straight before giving up a double down the left field line. He came back with a strikeout, but another double and a single ended his day.
The next two innings weren't any better. The Saints went to the bullpen three times, and the Patriots added six more runs.
SFCC used eight pitchers in all. Part of that, Wiggs said, was to have as many players as possible get some work in because the Saints don't play again until Saturday.
Wiggs called it a disappointing day all around.
"Pitching-wise, of course, the frustration continues there," he said. "Offensively and defensively, we didn't make any plays. We didn't swing the bats well against average pitching."
SFCC had the chance to make a comeback as they loaded the bases in the seventh inning but could not put any runs on the board.
The Saints totaled just six hits as they struggled to figure out the Patriots' starter, right-hander Kyle Maulbetsch. CFCC had nine hits and tallied nine free bases.
