SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team dropped both ends of a Sunshine State Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with finals scores of 10-8 and 9-3 as the Lions dropped the SSC series to the 19th ranked Mocs.

Despite both games seeming to be firmly in the visitor’s control, the Lions did manage a fierce rally in the ninth inning of game one as they trailed 10-4 with just three outs to give.  Saint Leo (9-16, 1-5 SSC) loaded the bases and received some timely hitting to continue the frame.  After a two-out, bases-loaded double by Blake Turner, the Lions had the tying run on second base.  A full-count pitch by Daniel Torres appeared to cross off the plate, but was signaled strike three as it ended the game and the comeback.

All the excitement from the end of game one was missing in the second game as Florida Southern (16-5, 3-0 SSC) took control of the series’ final game early, and opened a wide lead in keeping the Lions from coming back.

For the Lions, Anthony Santa went a combined 4-for-7 with an RBI in each game.  Chris Newcomb was a solid performer for SLU as well, going a combined 3-for-7 and slapping a home run in the second game.  Pounding out 11 and 10 hits respectively, five Lions managed multiple hits on the day.

Both starting pitchers were given the decisions for the Lions as Shaun Gough (1-4) and Rick Teasley (2-2) were saddled with losses.  Gough tossed over six innings and Teasley went three innings before turning pitching duties over to the SLU bullpen.

The Lions will take a near week-long break before traveling to Miami Shore for a rematch with Barry University.  The Sunshine State Conference series is scheduled to begin on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at Feinbloom Field on the Barry campus.

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Box Score 2