Box Score 2
FLORENCE, S.C. – The Saint Leo softball team (14-12) fell in a pair of non-conference games, Friday afternoon from the Freedom Florence Complex in Florence, S.C. In the first game, the Lions were upended by UNC-Pembroke Braves (16-9) 13-2, which was followed by an 11-4 defeat at the hands of the Francis Marion Patriots (17-7). The losses snap the Lions four-game winning streak
On the day, the Lions collected 12 hits, including three by senior Tiffinee Harvey who went 3-for-7 on the day. Danielle Moreda, Brittany Yates, Amber Martyn, and Elysha Agen also contributed two hits apiece.
In game one, Saint Leo continued their power show as Harvey and Yates went back-to-back in the first inning to give SLU an early two-run advantage over UNC-Pembroke.
Unfortunately, the Lions racked-up only two more hits over the final six innings, leaving them vulnerable to a Braves’ comeback. UNC-Pembroke broke into the Lions two-run advantage in the top of the fifth inning with one run.
The floodgates opened in the seventh inning, however, as the Braves opened the frame with 12 consecutive hits and 12 runs. The Lions couldn’t rebound in the bottom half of the inning as the squad dropped the 13-2 contest.
Ashton Whidden took the loss for the Lions and fell to 9-5 on the season.
In game two, the squad immediately faced a three-run deficit against the host challengers, scoring three runs over first two frames.
The Lions’ team remained resilient though, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game. After Agen doubled to begin the inning, both Harvey and Yates collected singles to bring home the Lions first run. Jaime Walker then stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run single to plate both base runners.
The Patriots answered the call with two runs of their own in top of the fifth inning to regain a two-run lead. Not fazed, the Green & Gold trimmed the lead to one, 5-4, with a Harvey RBI single.
Still, a Patriots three-run sixth and seventh innings put the game out of reach for the Lions, as Francis Marion walked away seven-run victors.
The Lions return to the field tomorrow, March 13, for another slate of non-conference games. First, SLU will take on Queens (NC) at 3:00 p.m. before taking on No. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne at 5:00 p.m.
