MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team (18-20, 5-4 SSC) dropped the series deciding game to the Barry University Buccaneers (23-14, 5-4 SSC) by the final score of 6-3, Sunday afternoon from Buccaneer Field.
In the Sunshine State Conference loss, Elysha Agen had an impressive day going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Tiffinee Harvey also collected her 17th double of the season, while Brittany Yates went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Alex Garris registered her first two-hit performance of the season and Danielle Moreda, Jaime Walker, and Sarah Boyd rounded-out the Lions 10-hit day. Unfortunately, the team left 13 runners on base, including a pair of bases loaded situations.
Agen led the game off with a single and after advancing to third on a wild pitch was brought home on an RBI single off the bat of Yates. A walk to Dianne Gonzalez loaded the bags and bumped the Bucs’ Brianna Smith from the game. But, reliever Jessica Bevlin got Barry out of the frame as she forced a pop out.
After a scoreless second inning, Barry tallied four runs on five hits, including a two with two outs to gain a 4-1 lead.
Later, after leaving two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth inning, the Bucs delivered on their fifth run in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly.
With the score 5-1, the Lions’ Walker used a two-out single to right field to plate Harvey from second base to trim the lead to 5-2. Soon after, Agen pulled the Lions to within two runs with a solo shot in the sixth inning.
However, it was the Bucs to scored the next run in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend the lead back out to three.
The 6-3 lead looked to be in doubt, however, in the top of the seventh when Saint Leo mounted a rally and loaded the bases. Still, Paula Mackin fought through the Lions’ comeback attempt pulling out the three-run victory.
It is the Lions first SSC series loss of the season.
Ashton Whidden was tagged with the loss as she dropped to 12-8 on the season, allowing three earned runs over 2.1 innings pitched. Jaime Walker was solid in relief, allowing just two earned runs over the following 4.1 innings.
The team returns to action on Wednesday, March 31 as they open an SSC series with the University of Tampa. First pitch for the game is set for 7:00 p.m.
