SAINT LEO, Fla. – Another solid team effort propelled the Saint Leo baseball team to victory Friday night, as the Lions defeated the visiting Clearwater Christian Cougars by a 7-1 score. The win improved the Lions' record to 8-2 on the season.

It was senior righty Brent Krauss who got the start for the Lions. After being sidelined with an injury in the 2012-13 season, the appearance signaled Krauss' first start since April 12, 2013. In five innings of work, he allowed just two hits while striking out four, earning his first win of the year.

Pitchers Ryan Sadler, Shaun Adams, and Tyrone Miller also made appearances in the victory, combining for four innings pitched and allowing just one hit and one unearned run. As a whole, the Saint Leo pitching staff logged ten strikeouts on the evening.

In what has become habit during the Lions' first nine games this season, Saint Leo was first on the scoreboard, plating one run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead.

Though the next three innings were scoreless for both squads, the Lions' Jordan Taylor sent a three-run homerun over the right field fence in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Saint Leo a 5-0 lead.

Timely doubles from Bobby Twitty and Michael Callahan allowed the Lions to score more runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, and though the Cougars recorded one run in the top of the ninth, it would not be enough.

As a team, 21 Lions appeared in the contest. In just 33 at-bats, Saint Leo earned 11 hits, five walks and two hit-by-pitches. Seven of the starting nine recorded hits, with both Fran Whitten and Nick Perez tallied more than one apiece. Perez's three hit-night marked the eighth time this season he has registered at least one hit in a game.

The Lions will return to play on Tuesday, February 25 when they take on the visiting Southeastern Fire on Bob Tewksbury night. The pre-game ceremony honoring Tewksbury will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the first pitch will be thrown out at 6:00 p.m.

For more on the Saint Leo baseball team, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Also, be sure to 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and 'Follow' Saint Leo Athletics on Twitter and Instagram.