ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team claimed the Sunshine State Conference series victory over the host Eckerd College Tritons as the Lions split the Sunday doubleheader, dropping game one 8-5 in 11 innings and coming back to dominate the nightcap 9-0.

Eckerd’s (17-28, 5-16 SSC) Joe McLemore decided game one with a two-on, two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th finished off an exciting, back-and-forth contest.  It was a game where Saint Leo starter Marshall Stalvey shut the host Tritons out in the first half of the game, but EC rallied to take a lead into the late innings. 

Saint Leo (16-29, 5-16 SSC) scored three runs in the final two regulation frames to force it to extras, making McLemore provide the decider in the 11th.

In the second game, Anthony Santa went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and the Lions scored four runs in the third to jump ahead.  It was a game that the Lions dominated in all aspects, scoring their nine runs on 12 hits while holding Eckerd to just four hits and no runs.

Right-hander Aaron Brandt (5-5) tossed four shutout innings to record the win, with Matt Smith completing the shutout with three scoreless innings of relief to earn an anti-climatic save.

With the SSC series behind them, the Lions and Tritons will flip venues and square off in a non-conference tilt at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.   The final home game for Saint Leo Athletics in the 2010-11 season will get under at 6:00 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score