SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team opened the home portion of their 2012 schedule in impressive fashion as the Lions pounded out 16 hits and scored 15 runs en route to a 15-5 drubbing of #15 Florida Southern in non-conference action on Wednesday night from Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
"I thought it was a great start at home. We had a great crowd and the atmosphere was really neat to see and I think our guys fed off of that," Head Coach Russ McNickle said of his team's first outing in the friendly confines. "We're playing with some confidence right now; we had a good weekend in Valdosta and I know they were excited to play at home tonight in front of their fans."
Answering a Moccasin run in the first inning with one of their own, Saint Leo (4-0) scored in the first four frames to open a wide lead over its opponent from Lakeland, Fla. The game was highlighted by a seven-run fourth inning that saw sophomore catcher Daniel Torres launch a bases-loaded, three run double to break the contest open. Torres finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
Not to be out-done, senior Anthony Santa connected on a two-on, two-out line drive in the bottom of the sixth that added to the Lions' impressive night. In total, the Saint Leo first baseman was 3-for-4 with two RBI.
On the mound, junior left-hander Rick Teasley (1-0) dominated Florida Southern (2-2), tossing six complete and only surrendering four hits and an earned run on 88 pitches. His FSC counterpart, Austin Jackson (0-1), only went three innings and allowed four runs as he faced 18 Lions.
Four Lions registered multiple hits in the game with junior Ryan Brnovich (2-for-4) and senior Dustin Brown (2-for-4) joining Torres and Santa.
It doesn't get any easier for the undefeated Lions as they return to the road and face Columbus State in a three-game weekend series in Georgia. The first game of a Saturday doubleheader is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. For the latest news, information, and updates on Lions' Baseball, visit SaintLeoLions.com.
