SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo softball and Head Coach Erin Kinberger announced its 2018 slate, which features 24 home games at University Softball Stadium. The Lions will open up their season with six games against regional opponents in Gulf Shores, Ala. at the Division II Gulf Coast Invitational.
 
"We have a very talented team for the 2018 season and the chemistry within this group is electric," Head Coach Erin Kinberger stated. "We are looking forward to competing against the best competition in the south region, right out of the gate." 
 
The Lions will return home to open their home portion of the schedule with a two-day, three-game matchup with Young Harris on Feb. 9-10. Saint Leo, who posted a 37-15 record and a 17-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference last year, will host Florida Tech, on Feb. 23-24 to open SSC play, and Flagler, on Feb. 27, to close out the month of February.
 
Saint Leo will open March with a road trip to Daytona Beach to take on Embry-Riddle on March 2-3 before stepping out of conference for four straight games against Ohio opponents. The Lions will take on Cedarville and Ashland on March 6 in Clermont, Fla., before two games against Tiffin at home on March 7.
 
The Lions will host Nova Southeastern on March 9-10 before welcoming non-conference opponent Caldwell to University Softball Stadium on March 13 for an 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. doubleheader to close out non-conference play.
 
The Green and Gold will close out the season with Sunshine State Conference games, starting at Eckerd on the 16th through 17^th of March before hosting Lynn on March 23-24, and Florida Tech on March 28-29.
 
Two series on the road will have the Lions open April, with a road trip to Miami Shores to face Barry on April 6-7 before traveling to Tampa on April 20-21. The Lions host SSC-newcomer Palm Beach Atlantic to campus to close out the regular season with a three-game series on April 26-27, highlighted by senior night.
 
Saint Leo heads into 2018 with 21 players on the roster with 12 returners including Kacie Kelly, the 2017 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year and NFCA Third Team All-American. The Lions added five transfers and four freshman to the roster heading into the 2018 season.
 
"The nine new faces bring a lot of depth, athleticism, speed, power, and game knowledge to our team," Kinberger added about the newcomers to the roster. "They have come in, gotten to work, and bought into our culture and we look forward to the season with them on the team. Thanks to our returners' guidance and standards, we have a strong team going into the spring."
 
Saint Leo, who won its second straight conference title (2016 & 2017), earned the second-seed in the South Region tournament last year and hosted the regional for the first time in program history, is looking to repeat in 2018 and make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament.
 
For more information on the Saint Leo softball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.