Two weeks ago, it took the Trenton softball team nine innings to beat Santa Fe at home.
On Tuesday night at Loretta Shane Field in Alachua, the Raiders scored in their final at-bat of regulation to even the season series.
Senior Chloe Cason had the game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 3-2 win against Trenton in a matchup of highly ranked teams.
“She came in at clutch time,” said Santa Fe coach Gene Findley. “She’s been doing a lot better at practice hitting the ball, and she showed it tonight.”
The Raiders (17-2) scored three unanswered runs to win their fourth straight game since the extra inning loss at Trenton on March 24.
“I thought the girls did well,” Findley said. “You know, my theory is, we just take one inning at a time. These girls have been pushing themselves through a lot.”
It was a bit of redemption for Cason, who committed an error in left field in the first inning which scored the first run of the game.
“I was actually one of the reasons that they scored the runner on an error,” Cason said. “So, I knew that I had to come up and come back. We just talked about getting on base.”
Trenton (15-3), which is ranked No. 1 in the Rural classification and 12th overall in Florida in the latest FHSAA rankings, struck first in the top of the first inning.
After the first two outs were recorded on groundouts, University of Florida commit Addison Allaire walked and courtesy runner Emily Winfield scored on a single to left field by MacKenzie Fisher and an error by Cason.
Allaire (6 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 10 K) retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, including a pair of strikeouts.
With two outs, the Tigers (15-3) added another run in the top of the second inning for a 2-0 lead.
Senior Presley Akins, the No. 9 hitter, walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI double to center field by sophomore Addilyn Welbers (2-for-4, DBL, RBI).
Santa Fe, which is ranked No. 3 in Class 3A and 13th overall in Florida, answered in the bottom of the inning.
Following a leadoff single by freshman Corie Wheeler, catcher Ainslea Kelsoe tied it up with a 2-run home run to left field.
“I had a good approach coming in,” Kelsoe said. “I’ve seen her a couple of times throughout the season, and I went up there and I saw a good old screwball coming in, and I just swung and it went out.”
It was the junior’s first home run since her freshman season.
“I was telling everyone yesterday I was seeing her good the first time,” Kelsoe said. “And I told everyone I was going to get a good hit because I was seeing it, and I did, and it was amazing.”
Meanwhile, Santa Fe pitcher Ryleigh “Chucky” Davis (7 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) tossed a 5-hitter and finished the game with five straight scoreless innings.
“Every time we play them, I know it’s going to be a challenge,” Davis said. “I feel like just coming in with as much confidence as you can, and having an amazing defense behind me, I really think it helps my confidence. Just knowing that if they hit a ball, then the play will be made, so I’m just really proud of myself and this team and how much work that we put in over the last couple of months.”
Santa Fe threatened with runners in scoring position the third through the fifth innings and they finally broke through in the sixth.
Freshman Corie Wheeler led off the inning with a walk, and three batters later Cason hit a “low and inside” pitch into the gap in left center field with the go-ahead run.
“I’ve been kind of struggling at the plate lately, so it felt really good to have my confidence back,” Cason said. “I knew if I didn’t execute, my team would have my back, and they would pick me up.”
Junior center fielder Madisen Crosby robbed Fisher of a hit to start the top of the sixth inning on a diving catch to her right and Cason caught a ball at the warning track to end the inning.
Davis struck out two in the final inning and ended the game with a strikeout of sophomore Lexi Faught with the tying run at first base.
Trenton will travel to Class 5A Middleburg on Thursday night, and Santa Fe will be at Rural No. 4 Branford. The first pitch for both games is at 7 p.m.
