SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team (20-22, 4-8 SSC) used a come-from-behind effort to down Deanna Henriott and the 10th-ranked Tampa Spartans (29-4, 10-2 SSC), 4-3, in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader from University Stadium. Game two also saw Saint Leo push the nationally ranked Spartans to the edge, but a seventh inning rally fell just short as SLU dropped its third one-run ballgame of the season, 2-1.
Nearly equaling the Spartans offensively, Saint Leo collected 12 hits over the span of two games. Leading the group was Dianne Gonzalez as she posted three of those hits. In addition, four Lions also had two-hit days including Danielle Moreda who connected on one of the Lions two extra-base hits. Brittany Yates, Amber Martyn, and Ashlee Sismilich were the other three to also post two hit games. Meanwhile, Kasey Postupack contributed with a 1-for-2 day as she also drove in the Lions’ lone run of game two.
In what was described as ‘The best game we’ve played all year,” by Coach John Conway, the Lions used four runs over the course of the fifth and sixth innings to upset Tampa.
Saint Leo faced an early deficit as Tampa used a pair of hits and a Lions’ error in the second inning to help themselves to a 2-0 lead.
Fighting back, the Lions finally broke through against Tampa’s Henriott as she was touched up for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Martyn led the inning off with a single, Gonzalez came up clutch as her RBI double put Saint Leo on the board. Moreda tied the game with the very next at-bat as she singled up the middle to plate Gonzalez.
After seeing their lead disappear, Tampa answered the call as they regained the lead in the top of the sixth as a two-out fielding error allowed Barnes to score from third base.
Still, it was Saint Leo who had the final say as the Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Henriott collected two outs via the fielder’s choice and strikeout, Gonzalez stepped to the plate and with a 1-2 count roped a line drive back up the middle to score Yates and Postupack.
Jaime Walker made the lead stand for the Green and Gold in the top of the seventh as she sat down the Tampa offense in order.
The Lions’ pitching duo of Megan Still and Walker met the challenge laid down by Henriott as they combined to allow only three hits and two earned runs. Walker, who got the win in relief, threw two innings of shutout ball while allowing only one hit. Meanwhile, Henriott fell to 18-2.
The Lions couldn’t complete the sweep; however, as the Spartans clinched the series with a 2-1 win in game two.
Tampa jumped on top of Lions’ hurler Ashton Whidden in the top of the first as three hits eventually led to Cassie Barnes connecting on an RBI single through the left side to score Julie Wisniewski.
After settling down, Whidden wasn’t touched again until the fifth inning when the Spartans’ Elizabeth Milhan roped a single through the middle off of reliever Kristen Kelly to score Whidden’s runner Barnes.
Sporting a 2-0 lead, the Spartans were put in a tough spot again as a gritty Lions’ bunch refused to quit, making one last charge in the seventh.
In the frame, Moreda rocketed a double down the right field line. Alex Garris, pinch running for Moreda, soon stood on third thanks to a pass ball. With two outs, Postupack stepped to the plate and singled back to Henriott allowing Garris to cut the lead in half. It was as close as SLU came though as the top of the order fell at the hands of the Tampa ace.
Spartans’ starter Kari Walsh kept the Lions’ bats quiet for the majority of the afternoon contest as she tossed 5.1 innings while not allowing a run and scattering four hits. Deanna Henriott collected her third save as she, despite allowing a run in the seventh, struck out five of the seven batters faced.
As for the Lions, a trio of pitchers took to the circle, but Whidden was tagged with the loss as she dropped to 3-8 in 2011.
Saint Leo will continue Sunshine State Conference action when they travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to compete with Nova Southeastern in a three-game series. Game one of the series is set for Saturday, April 9 from the AD Griffin Sports Complex.
Box Score: Game 1
Box Score: Game 2
