Melbourne, Fla. (February 22, 2007) – The Saint Leo University softball team (1-8, 0-3 SSC) was swept by Florida Tech (10-9, 3-0 SSC) in a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader on Thursday.  Tech won Thursday’s first game 4-3 in 10 innings before wrapping up the sweep with a 5-2 win in a six-inning second game.

In the first game of the day, Saint Leo took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.  Christina Van Tassel (Sr., Valparaiso, Fla.) led off the inning with a triple and scored when Ashley Urbanik (So., Riverview, Fla.) delivered a sacrifice fly.  Florida Tech tied things up in the fourth and neither team was able to score in the final three innings, forcing extra innings.

The Lions regained their lead in the 10th inning, scoring a pair of runs.  Hayley Mallory’s (Sr., Plant City, Fla.) single scored Heather Stroud (Jr., San Antonio, Fla.) who had led off with a single of her own.  April Slate (Jr., Land O’Lakes, Fla.) who reached after being hit by a pitch then scored on a sacrifice fly by Erin Brunt (Sr., Clearwater, Fla.).

However, Tech rallied once again and won in the final at bat for the second straight game.  The Panthers loaded the bases following a pair of singles to start the inning and a hit batter.  One scored on a walk before the tying run was scored on a fielder’s choice.  A second hit batter in the inning resulted in the game-winning run.

In the second half of the twinbill the Panthers go on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning.  The Lions scored single runs in the second and sixth but Tech added a pair of runs in between to wrap up the doubleheader and series sweep.

Saint Leo will play its 2007 home opener on Sunday when the University of West Florida visits University Field.  First pitch of game one in the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.