SAINT LEO, Fla. –The Lions put it all together in a 7-2 win over Florida Southern on Tuesday night from Thomas B. Southard Stadium. Saint Leo (11-6) got a strong start from freshman Chris Williams and enough timely hitting to beat Florida Southern (5-11) for the second time this year. That win marks the fifth win over Florida Southern in the last six attempts.
The Lions were led offensively by Taylor Perez and Dillon Vitale who both tallied two hits on the evening with Vitale collecting two RBI as well—but the biggest moment of the night came when Kory Wan pinch hit with two men on in the bottom of the eighth and sent a missile over the left field wall. The homerun from Wan gave the Lions a five run lead and all of the momentum.
Lions' starter Chris Williams—making the first start of his young collegiate career—gave up a run in the top of the first, but settled in nicely over the next five innings. Williams surrendered just three hits after the first inning while striking out two to earn the win.
Trailing 1-0 going into the second inning, the Lions offense sparked for two runs in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI double from Vitale.
The Lions scored in the fourth on an RBI single from Daniel Torres that brought home Perez and once again in the seventh after a hustle double from Ryan Brnovich set up an RBI base hit from Bobby Twitty. With that seventh inning hit Twitty extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The Lions' eighth inning got started on a Chris Newcomb walk and single through the right side by Perez—setting up Wan's pitch hitting heroics that sent the 200-plus fans at Thomas B. Southard Stadium wild.
Brandon Terry followed up Williams' performance on the mound with a stellar one of his own. Terry threw three and two thirds innings while allowing just one run and striking out four to earn the save.
The Lions get right back in action tomorrow against Saginaw Valley in Clearwater, Fla. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
For more information on the Lions' baseball team be sure to 'like' us on Facebook, here!
