Sanders and Heath Bats Help Lions to Road Win
WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Saint Leo University softball team won 7-4 on Friday night in the first of a three-game weekend series against Rollins College. The win improved the Lions to 23-13 on the year and 5-5 in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC).
Adriana Sanders led the way for the Saint Leo going 3-for-4 on the night with three hits and two runs scored. Rachael Heath also went 3-for-3 while scoring twice.
The Lions got on the board in the top of the third inning when Michelle George drilled a single up the middle followed by a Heath bunt for a single. Sanders tied the game at 1-1 with a bunt for a RBI scoring George from third. Sanders would steal second, while Heath stole home putting the Lions up 2-1. Brittany Ewing then flew out to centerfield, advancing Sanders to third, and a throwing error by the Tars' catcher would allow Sanders to cross the plate to exteend the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, Heath, McKenzie Burns (fielder choice), Sanders, and Ewing would all reach base on singles. Heath and Burns would both score. Ewing stole second base and Sarah Steiner's sacrifice fly to centerfield would advance Ewing to third and eventually home giving the Lions a 6-1 lead.
The Tars (25-10, 8-5 SSC) would not go away quietly, taking advantage of a couple of hits and a Saint Leo fielding error to score three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Lions' lead to 6-4.
Saint Leo would log another run in the top of the sixth inning when Tori Obermeier, pinch running for Angela Kafalas, scored the final run of the game on a Rollins throwing error in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 7-4.
Ashley Ehlers would get the win for the Green and Gold, extending her record to 9-3 on the year. Alana Tabel got the save, her fifth of the season, retiring the Tars in order to secure the win.
The series will continue Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
For more on the Saint Leo University softball team visit SaintLeoLions.com. Also be sure 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and 'Follow' the Lions on Twitter and Instagram.
