Central Florida suffered a doubleheader sweep in its final home date of the season, falling to Mid-Florida Conference rival Santa Fe by scores of 7-1 and 9-2. Despite the setbacks, the Patriots remain alive in the race for an FCCAA State Tournament berth.
CF (14-33, 5-17 MFC) put up an epic fight in extending the opener to nine innings. Megan Still pitched a masterful game and the Patriots plated a run in the third as Jessica McClellan drove in Erin McMahan with a bases-loaded walk. The conference-leading Saints finally wore down the Patriots' staff ace in the ninth to pull off the road victory. Katie Hayes' solo home run provided the highlight in the late game.
The doubleheader brought an end to the Patriots' 2010 home schedule, but meaningful games remain to be played. Lake-Sumter was swept at FSC-Jacksonville on Thursday, ending its MFC schedule at 7-17. The 5-17 Patriots can match that record by sweeping Daytona State in its final doubleheader, suspended due to inclement weather in Daytona on Tuesday and scheduled to be completed Saturday. The teams will resume play at noon Saturday with Daytona batting in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless first game.
A CF loss in either game means its season ends Saturday. But if the Patriots win twice, they live to see at least one more game. Should Lake-Sumter and CF finish tied for the MFC's fifth and final FCCAA State Tournament berth, the teams will enter a single-game playoff, to be played at a neutral site next week.
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