PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team (6-6) opened their four-game road trip with a split of region opponent Palm Beach Atlantic University (7-5), Saturday afternoon from the Lake Catherine Sportsplex in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Brittany Yates’ two-run single highlighted Saint Leo’s game one win while the Sailfish’s Chris Donovan held the Lions to just two hits in the game two shutout.
The Lions registered 10 total hits on the afternoon, including a pair of three hit performances by Elysha Agen and Brittany Yates. Agen combined to go 3-for-6 with two runs scored while Yates posted a two-RBI day. Amber Martyn also delivered a pair of hits as she went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Dianne Gonzalez and Sarah Boyd were the only other Lions to notch hits.
Pitching and timely hitting dominated the Lions’ game one win. Saint Leo began the contest in impressive fashion when Agen posted a leadoff single. After being sacrificed over to second base, Yates rocketed a single into leftfield scoring Agen from second base.
Soon after, Martyn added to the first inning rally when she slashed an infield single to the shortstop to plate Yates from third base, making the score 2-0.
The Sailfish bats were held quiet until the fourth inning when Caitlin Bouschet took advantage of a controversial out call at first base. During her at-bat, the shortstop took a 3-1 pitch and deposited it over the left field fence to tie the game a two apiece.
Saint Leo was not to be denied, however, as they erupted for three runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning. Agen broke the tied ball game when her one out, RBI double scored Danielle Moreda from second base. With momentum swinging back towards Saint Leo, Yates delivered the insurance runs the team had been looking as she stroked a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle scoring Boyd and Kasey Postupack.
After the hiccup to Bouschet, Still regained her earlier confidence as she sat down nine of the last 11 batters faced. The sophomore scattered six hits over seven innings and struck out four batters while improving to 5-2.
In game two, the Lions encountered their first offensive stumbling block of the 2011 season, as they registered just two hits over seven innings.
Palm Beach used three hits and capitalized on one Lions’ fielding error in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. The big blow in the inning came from Miranda Welch as she sent a one out single up the to score the Sailfishes’ second run of the game.
Unfortunately for Lions’ fans in attendance, it was all Palm Beach starter Chris Donovan needed as she shut the Saint Leo offense down in each of the seven innings. On top of her two allowed hits, the starter went all seven innings and struck a season-high six batters.
Palm Beach added an insurance run in the sixth inning to solidify the win.
Still, Ashton Whidden (1-3) threw well for Saint Leo as she tossed five innings and allowed just one earned run during her time in the circle.
On the day, Coach John Conway continued to see positives as well as areas that still need work, “In the first game, we came out with good intensity and received timely hitting, in addition to good defense and a solid effort from Megan Still in the circle. Unfortunately, game two saw some lapses on the defensive side and had a tough time adjusting to Palm Beaches’ pitcher. We need to regroup and come out focused for two-consecutive games tomorrow.
The Lions will continue the four-game road swing tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Miami Gardens, Fla. to take on NAIA opponent St. Thomas University. First pitch is set for noon EST.
Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2
