Saint Leo, Fla. (March 28, 2008) – The Saint Leo softball team (24-7, 7-1) split with the Florida Southern College Moccasins (21-7, 2-6 SSC) Friday night in an SSC doubleheader at University Field. In the first game, Saint Leo took an early lead but fell 4-2, but rebounded in the second game to win 4-3.
Ashley Urbanik (Jr., Riverview, Fla.) took the loss in the first game, her first loss since losing to Alabama-Huntsville on March 6, but rebounded in relief in game two to pick up her 17 win of the year. Combined on the evening Urbanik (17-4) threw 9.1 innings surrendering ten hits, five runs, while striking out eight. Urbanik lead the Lions offense going 3-for-6 with 2 home runs and four RBI. Tatiana Casis (Jr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.) went 2-for-5, a double and one RBI. Stephanie Discepolo (Jr., Spring Hill, Fla.) added one RBI, while going 1-for-5 on the night. Elysha Agen (Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.) and Ally Maddox (Jr., Brandon, Fla.) each went 2-for-6.
After matching zeros the first three innings, the Lions jumped on the board first. With nobody on, Urbanik stepped to the plate and launched her ninth home run of the season and fourth in as many games to put the Lions on top 1-0. The Lions had their string of three consecutive shutouts snapped in the sixth when the Mocs struck against Urbanik as she gave up four runs on five hits highlighted by a Natalie Lang two-run double to right field. With the Lions down 4-1, in the bottom of the sixth, Casis knocked home April Slate (Sr., Land O'Lakes, Fla.) from second on a line-drive double down the left field line cutting the lead in half, 4-2. The Lions didn’t get any closer losing for the first time eight games. Urbanik fell to 16-4 on the season.
In the second game, the Lions were down 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Urbanik ripped a single into leftfield scoring Agen from third tying the game at one. In the same inning, the Lions took the lead on a Discepolo single through the left side scoring Maddox. The Mocs once again put the pressure on Saint Leo tying the game 2-2 in the third inning. The Mocs and Lions traded scoreless innings until the fifth when Urbanik raked her fifth homerun in five games, dropping the two-run home run over the left centerfield fence putting the Lions up 4-2. Florida Southern answered with one run in the top of the sixth, cutting the Lions lead to 4-3. In the seventh, the Mocs got the lead off runner on but was stranded at third base, as Urbanik got the last Florida Southern batter to ground out to shortstop locking up the 4-3 win.
Kiki VonHolt (Sr., New Port Richey, Fla.) pitched well for the Lions in her no-decision. VonHolt (6-3) went 4.2 innings, scattering eight hits and giving up two runs none of which were earned. Urbanik (17-4) came in the final 2.1 innings to record the win.
The Lions continue their SSC series with Florida Southern College Sunday, March 30 at University Field. The single game starts at 1:00 p.m.
