Clearwater, Fla. (February 24, 2008) – The Saint Leo softball team (9-2) won two out of three games at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. In the first of three games, the Lions defeated #17 Midwestern State (9-8), 2-1. The Lions followed the defeat of the Mustangs by winning 3-0 against the Eckerd College Tritons (3-15) in dramatic fashion. The Lions would fail in their attempt of a three game sweep in day two of the tournament as they fell to the University of Tampa (13-4), 6-3.
Saint Leo took on Midwestern State in the first game of the day, defeating the # 15 Mustangs 2-1. Leading the way for the Lions was Tatiana Casis (Jr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.). Casis went 2-for-3 on the day with a single and the first of her two home runs on the afternoon. The Lions shortstop once again cleared both sets of fences at the Eddie C. Moore complex with the long home run to left centerfield. The Lions would collect six hits total on the day and were able to push runs across in the third and fourth innings. That is all Lions pitcher Ashley Urbanik (Jr., Riverview, Fla.) would need as she went the distance, scattering eight hits, and striking out seven. The Lions were able to overcome being outhit and committing one more error than the Mustangs.
The second game of the day was witness to a pitchers duel between Lions’ starter Kiki VonHolt (Sr., New Port Richey, Fla.) and Ashley Palmer of Eckerd College. VonHolt (3-0) went the whole way only giving up four hits, striking out four, and not giving up a single run. Each pitcher matched zeros the entire game and the Lions could only manage three hits against the Tritons’ Palmer. Two of those three hits came in the bottom of the seventh through when Ally Maddox doubled to deep left center with two outs to put runners on second and third. That double set the stage for designated player Stephanie Discepolo (Jr., Spring Hill, Fla.) to win the game for the Lions. With two down, Discepolo sent the Ashley Palmer delivery deep into left center field and over the fence for a walk off three-run homerun and the Lions home with a hard fought victory.
The Lions came out in game three with the intentions of sweeping the three game afternoon bill, but instead met a resilient University of Tampa team. The Lions jumped out in front early on two infield singles as Tatiana Casis reached on an infield single bringing in Elysha Agen (Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.). The Spartans bats would stay hot though as they would tie the game in the second and then scored four in the third inning to take the lead, 5-1. The Spartans would score their last run on of the game in the fourth to make it 6-1. The Lions wouldn’t quit though, with two down in the top of the sixth inning, Tatiana Casis would send a Spartans pitch over the centerfield fence driving in two. The Lions couldn’t muster anymore offense though as they fell to the Spartans Sunday afternoon.
The Lions return to action this Friday, February 29 as they open home conference play against Florida Tech. First pitch for the single game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
