BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team (13-14, 2-1 SSC) scored 22 runs and stole 10 bases, as they split their Sunshine State Conference doubleheader with Lynn University (5-17, 1-5 SSC), Saturday afternoon from the McCusker Sports Complex.
In game one, the Lions surrendered a five-run lead as they were upended 9-8; their fifth one-run loss of the year. Fortunately, an offensive outburst in game two saw the Lions collect 17 hits en route to a 14-2 win, solidifying the day’s split and the season series win.
Offensively, Saint Leo pounded-out 28 hits off of Fighting Knights’ pitching and finished the day batting .444 as a team.
Seven Lions posted multiple hit games, including Brittany Yates as she led the team with five hits in eight at bats. The junior scored on three occasions. Kasey Postupack also had a solid day at the plate going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Ana Castillo and Amber Martyn also went 3-for-6. Castillo collected a pair of doubles while Martyn tied for the team lead with three runs scored. Sarah Boyd saw one of her two hits land over the left field fence for her first home run of the year. Dianne Gonzalez and JamieLee Basinger registered two hits apiece and combined to score three runs.
Game one was a tough pill for the Lions to swallow as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead after just an inning and a half. The duo of Yates and Boyd gave the Green & Gold a 3-0 lead after just one half inning. Yates sent an RBI single through the middle scoring Ashlee Sismilich while Sarah Boyd’s two-run long ball increased the Lions’ lead.
After Lynn platted one in the bottom of the first, the Lions responded with three more in the second. After Alex Garris scored on a wild pitch, Postupack knocked in Basinger with a base hit and Agen scored Postupack with a sacrifice fly.
What looked like a commanding 6-1 Lions’ lead, the Fighting Knights responded with four runs on four hits, including Angels’ two-run home run, to cut the lead to 6-5.
Another RBI single by Postupack in the third increased the Saint Leo advantage by one, 7-5. But three runs by Lynn in the bottom of the third saw the lead flipped on the Lions.
Aside from a run in the fifth, the Saint Leo bats went quiet over the final three innings. Meanwhile, a Lynn RBI double in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Fighting Knights secured their ninth and final run in helping them to their first conference win.
Jaime Walker was tagged with the loss in relief as she fell to 1-3 in 2011.
With game one leaving a sour taste in their mouths, Saint Leo exploded for six runs in the top of the first inning of game two. Of the Lions’ four hits, Castillo highlighted the inning with a two-RBI single.
Saint Leo continued to pick apart Lynn pitching, posting a three runs in the third, one in the fourth, and a four spot in the fifth inning.
Gonzalez racked up a two-RBI single in the third, scoring Postupack and Basinger, while Martyn blasted her first home run of the season in the Lions four-run fifth.
Kristen Kelly continued her hot pitching as she went the distance, scattering just two hits and striking out two. Kelly improved her mark to 4-1 on the season.
Saint Leo will take a one day break from conference action as they prepare to host Southwest Minnesota State University from University Stadium. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. In addition, Tuesday will also be a ‘Pink Out’ game. The Lions will be donning a pink shirt throughout the doubleheader as they raise awareness for breast cancer.
Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two
