PENSACOLA, Fla. – Despite pounding-out 26 hits and batting .433 as a team, the Saint Leo softball team (2-4) dropped a pair of region contests to the University of West Florida Argonauts, Friday afternoon from the UWF Softball Complex during the first day of the SSC/GSC Crossover Tournament. The Lions squandered a one-run, seventh inning lead in game one to lose 6-5, before falling 18-9 in game two of the doubleheader.
Despite the losses, individually, the Lions had successful outings. Ana Castillo led the way with a 5-for-8 performance, scoring three runs and collecting a team-best five RBI. Brittany Yates also continued to swing a hot bat, going 4-for-7 with two runs and an RBI. Saint Leo also saw three others post three hits as Elysha Agen, Amber Martyn, and Sarah Boyd added to the hit column. Kasey Postupack rounded-out the multiple hit performances with a 2-for-6, one RBI, one run performance.
The Lions, despite putting up 12 combined runs, could not slow an Argonauts’ offense that belted 25 hits, capitalized on five Lions’ errors, and drew 14 walks off of Saint Leo pitching.
Still, the afternoon took shape as though it was going to be a victorious one. The Lions wasted no time in jumping on top of the Argos and Ashleigh McLean as the dup of Yates and Boyd connected on back-to-back base hits to give the visiting Lions a 1-0 lead.
The Green & Gold took their lead into the bottom of the third inning when McLean scored on a Crystal Thompson sacrifice fly to tie the game. Shorty after, Lexi Mikedis sent an RBI single up the middle to score Amber Ingram, putting the Argonauts up for the first time in the game.
Resilient for much of the game, Saint Leo responded with two-out, two-run rally in the top of the fourth inning. Ali Lamb led the charge with a double into the right centerfield gap, later scoring on a sharp line drive single by Castillo to tie the game. Postupack gave the Lions the lead for the second time as her RBI single through the right side pushed Castillo across the plate.
It appeared as though the Lions were able to tack on a pair of insurance runs the next inning when Boyd scored on a McLean wild pitch and Lamb belted a two-out, RBI single to give the Lions a 5-2 lead.
However, West Florida did not go away quietly. The Argos pushed through with two in the fifth on two hits setting up the narrow finish.
After the Lions failed to plate any runs in the seventh, West Florida used one last ditch effort to try and steal the win. Soon, the Argos put two on with one out. The Lions received some much needed help when Jennifer McKinney struck out.
With two outs, the Lions saw a prime opportunity to seal the game but the defense could not hold up their end of the bargain as an untimely error loaded the bases. The Argonauts made the two-out error pay when Karri Bisbee roped a two-RBI single to right field scoring the tying and game-winning runs.
In relief, Jaime Walker was tagged with the loss as she dropped to 0-1 on the season. Megan Still tossed five innings of seven-hit ball in the no decision.
The heartbreaking loss saw Saint Leo on their heels in game two, as West Florida posted 10 runs over the first two innings.
The Lions cut into the lead in the second when a Postupack single ignited a four-run, four hit inning. Highlighting the effort was a two-RBI single by Castillo.
In the third inning, the Argonauts mounted three more runs to expand the lead to 13-4. Still, Saint Leo continued to fight as Moreda rocketed the team’s first home run of the 2011 season in the bottom of the third inning. Her two-run shot, in addition to Marissa Armocida first collegiate hit and RBI, allowed the Lions to slice the lead to six once again.
The Argos’ offense was too much, however, as they went on to score five more times over the course of the next two innings.
Despite the final outcome, Castillo topped her night with her second-career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ashton Whidden received the loss and fell to 0-2 in 2011.
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, February 12, when they continue action at the Crossover Tournament against North Alabama. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. EST.
Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two
