TCC Softball sweeps Santa Fe, improves to 7-4

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 18, 2014) – Tallahassee Community College's softball team opened its 2014 home schedule on Tuesday by sweeping Santa Fe College, 8-0 and 6-0.

Tuesday marked the back end of a home-and-home doubleheader with the Saints and the Eagles took three of four from their Gainesville rivals after splitting a pair of games on Sunday.

In the opener, Tallahassee put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first and that was more than enough for freshman righty Mariah Rivera, who was making her first start in her hometown.

Rivera went the distance in the five-inning game that was shortened due to the mercy rule.

The Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate in the first and knocked out Santa Fe starter Celeste Bradshaw in the process.

Alexis Huss got the Eagles on the board with a two-run double then scored when Brianna Murillo's grounder made it through the infield and into center for a run-scoring single.  Back-to-back RBI-singles from Taesha DuBoise and Danielle Patterson completed the first-inning scoring.

An RBI-groundout from Brenda Santana accounted for Tallahassee's second-inning run and she added a two-run homer in the fourth.

In the nightcap, Tallahassee got another strong effort in the circle, this time from Ashley Dobson who completed the sweep with another shutout.

The Eagles broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when Ashley Heath-Smith scored on Cobbs' grounder to second.

Tallahassee added two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings and plated its final run in the sixth.

The Eagles (7-4) return to action at 2 p.m. Wednesday when they host Andrew (Ga.) College.