CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saint Leo softball team (8-10) continued to exchange wins and losses on the 2011 season and at the Eckerd College Spring Invitational. In game one of the Lions twin bill, Saint Leo downed region powerhouse, the University of West Florida, 2-1, before being upended by Massachusetts-Lowell, 7-0, Saturday morning from the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.
Game one was a customary pitcher’s duel between Megan Still and Megan Russell. Still went the distance for the Green & Gold, scattering three hits and striking out four.
Offensively, the Lions outslugged the normally potent offensive team from Pensacola, outhitting the Argos, 8-3.
Ashlee Sismilich continues to grow comfortable to the leadoff role as the junior was the only Lion to manage double figure hits. Six other Lions also etched their name into the scorebook.
In the game, the two teams combined for just one hit over the first three innings. In the fourth, however, the Lions could not take advantage of a couple go-ahead chances.
In fact, it was the Argos who took advantage of the next scoring opportunity in the fifth Katie Kania connected on an RBI single to score Danielle Kildow.
It was the only blemish against Still all afternoon. The Lions came to life in support of Still’s effort inside the circle. Jaime Walker’s leadoff walk set up the one out opportunity for Jaime Lee Basinger as she stroked a double through the left side to put two in scoring position. Sismilich then made the defense work as her single up the middle scored Katie Gwinn from third. On the same play, Basinger also came around to score when a fielding error by the catcher allowed the runner to advance 60 feet and giving the Lions a 2-1 lead.
The sixth inning rally was all Saint Leo needed as Still quieted the Argo’s bat’s once again in the seventh to improve to 6-4.
Game two statistics are still not completed as the Lions took on the UMass-Lowell, falling by the score of 7-0.
The Lions will return to action on Sunday, February 27 when they return to Clearwater, Fla. for the third and final day of the Eckerd College Spring Invitational. Their opponents will be Palm Beach Atlantic at 9:30 a.m. Flagler at 2:30 p.m.
