PENSACOLA, Fla. – After a tough opening day at the SSC/GSC Regional Crossover Tournament, the Saint Leo softball team (4-4) rebounded by sweeping region opponent the University of North Alabama in Saturday doubleheader action from the UWF Softball Complex. The Lions used a walk-off single by Yates in game one to claim a 5-4 win, while game two’s 10-run outburst put UNA away in five innings.
The Lions offense continued to produce, as their combined 15 hits today has given the team 41 for the tournament. Four hitters garnered multiple-hit afternoons, including junior catcher Brittany Yates as she went 4-for-8 with a pair of doubles and a team-best four RBI. Elysha Agen also put on a show as her three-hit, three-RBI effort helped Saint Leo solidify the game two victory. Katie Gwinn scored on a pair of occasions as she went 2-for-3 from the plate, while Kasey Postupack went 2-for-4, amassed three runs, and drew a pair of walks.
In addition, Sarah Boyd and Ashlee Sismilich collected a hit and an RBI, while Amber Martyn scored twice. Danielle Moreda wrapped-up the evening by reaching base four times.
As they have for much of the Crossover, Saint Leo wasted no time in obtaining a lead over its opponent. The top of the order did much of the damage the first time through as Agen, after walking to open the game, came around to score on a Yates RBI double. Boyd followed her battering mate with an RBI single of her own to make it 2-0.
The lead was short lived, however, as North Alabama responded with two runs on three hits in the second inning. Jennifer Sharp and Ali Barnette opened the inning with back-to-back singles, with Sharp coming around to score on a Lions’ throwing error. Cassandra McKinney knotted the game at two apiece when her RBI single scored Barnette.
Still, Saint Leo continued to find ways to produce runs. Postupack led the bottom of the third off with a liner into leftfield. After moving to second on one of Agen’s three hits, Postupack rounded third and scored on Yates’ second RBI base hit.
With the Lions now staking to a 3-2 lead, Saint Leo tacked on an additional run in the fifth. Agen began the inning by bouncing a triple off of the left centerfield fence. On the very next pitch, a wild delivery from the UNA hurler hit the backstop allowing Agen to score.
The 4-2 Saint Leo lead lasted until the sixth when the opposing Lions struck once again. Kathryn Young and Sharp led the inning off with a single and a walk. Both came around to score one batter later when Sarah Corn roped a one-out, two-RBI double down the leftfield line to tie the game.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Lions used some two-out magic to stage a comeback win. Agen, who reached as a result of a fielder’s choice, sat at third base thanks to one of Gwinn’s two singles. Yates, now at the plate, had the chance to play hero and did not pass it up as she ripped a game-winning RBI single down the left field line to give Saint Leo the 5-4 win.
Ashton Whidden tossed a solid five innings but did not receive a decision. After 1.1 innings of relief from Kristen Kelly, Megan Still (3-1) pitched the final two-thirds of the seventh to finish with the win.
Game two was the power display Coach John Conway has been wanted and waited for. After a scoreless first inning, the Lions erupted for 10 runs over the next four innings.
Highlighting the Lions four-run second frame was Agen’s bases-clearing, three-RBI double to give the Lions the commanding early lead. Preceding that play, however, was Sismilich’s first career RBI as her single knocked home Martyn.
North Alabama did manage to tie it up in the bottom of the inning, but it did not deter the Lions from the mission at hand as Saint Leo responded with their second four-run inning. This time the Lions played small ball to regain the lead. Boyd started the inning by scoring on a wild pitch. Gwinn and Postupack soon followed with back-to-back RBI singles resulting in three runs crossing the plate.
The Lions sealed the deal over the following two innings. First, Yates blasted her 26th career home run over the left field fence to make the score 9-3. The fifth inning put the finishing touches on one of the best games Saint Leo has played all season. After drawing a lead-off walk, Postupack came around to score on a wild pitch ending the game at its final 10-2 margin.
Game two also belonged to Still as she tossed five innings, scattering five hits and striking out three.
On the base paths, the Lions continue to burn a trail as they have now stolen 24 bases through eight games, including six today. The Lions have also been putting the ball in play more than ever as they struck out just six times in the doubleheader and now have just 20 to date.
The Lions will get a short break and then hit the field one more time in Pensacola as they will take on Delta State University on Sunday, February 13. First pitch of the region doubleheader is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two
