SAINT LEO, Fla. – After dropping a 3-1 decision to the Flagler College Saints just one week ago, the Lions rebounded on Wednesday to defeat the visiting Saints by a 15-13 score. Both teams utilized more than five pitchers in the duel, but it was junior Tyrone Miller who captured the victory for the Lions at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.

The Saints struck first in the contest, rallying for three runs in the top of the first off Saint Leo starter, Ryan Sadler.

After two scoreless outings, the Lions retaliated in the bottom of the third to score three of their own, as sophomore Taylor Perez notched an RBI single and senior Fran Whitten registered a 2-RBI double.

Though Flagler responded with another run in the top of the fourth to take back a 4-3 lead, the Lions' opened the floodgates in the bottom of the inning, recording nine runs on six hits and a Saints' error. Cole Stancil, Dale Irving, Chris Newcomb, Alex Mata, and Dylan Harris, all tallied hits in the effort.

With a 12-4 lead in favor of Saint Leo, the Saints fought back in the top of the fifth inning to tack on two runs with a two-run homerun from Jake Taylor. Not to be outdone, the Lions tacked on two of their own in the bottom of the inning thanks to four consecutive singles by Fran Whitten, Alex Mata, Dylan Harris, and Bobby Twitty.

Heading into the sixth inning, the Lions maintained a 14-6 lead, but the Saints would score again in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in the hopes of taking the lead again. The squad rallied for two in the sixth thanks to a single from Nick Kranick and a sacrifice fly from Taylor, and they picked up another in the seventh to cut the deficit to 14-9.

The Lions picked up another run in the bottom of the seventh when junior Bobby Twitty sent an RBI single up the middle, taking a 15-9 lead.

Trailing by six, Flagler came out in the top of the eighth inning hungry for victory. The Saints registered four runs on three walks, a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a Saint Leo error, but the runs would not be enough, as Saint Leo took home the final 15-13 victory.

As a team, the Lions collected 19 hits on the day, walking four times and stealing one base.

The Saint Leo pitching staff, consisting of Ryan Sadler, Tyrone Miller, Liam O'Sullivan, Ethan Lichtenberg, Shaun Adams, and Brandon Terry, allowed 12 Flagler hits on five walks. The group struck out eleven, and senior Brandon Terry was credited with the save.

The Lions return to action when they travel to Fort Lauderdale this weekend to take on Nova Southeastern in their second conference series this year. First pitch is set for Friday evening 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.