SAINT LEO, Fla. – With a 2-1 scoring margin between two games, the Saint Leo University softball team split its Tuesday doubleheader against Lock Haven University. The Green and Gold took the first contest with a 2-0 shutout while LHU nearly mirrored in the second game, earning a 1-0 victory.
The Lions conclude the day at University Softball Stadium with a 16-7 record while the visiting Bald Eagles depart with a 2-6 tally.
Senior Angela Kafalas hit a home run in the first contest while fellow senior Cassie Boggs collected three between the matchups.
The first game of the twinbill turned into a pitcher's duel as freshman Samantha Tyler (5-1) bested Bald Eagles hurler Rachel Mouillesseaux with a five scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out five batters while limiting Lock Haven to a pair of hits for her fifth win of the season.
Senior Ashley Ehlers picked up her first save of the season, pitching a pair of innings without allowing a base-runner, striking out four.
Saint Leo scored one run in the bottom of the first, as Adriana Sanders laced a two-out double to left field. Senior Boggs roped a single to score Sanders and give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Both pitchers traded scoreless innings until the bottom of the sixth, when offensive player Kafalas blasted her third home run of the season, a solo-shot over the centerfield fence to end the scoring at 2-0 in favor of the Lions.
The strong pitching continued in the second game, as Lock Haven finally scored a run in the fourth inning. The Bald Eagles took a 1-0 lead as the scoring drought continued through the contest as Lock Haven took game two by a slim 1-0 margin.
LHU hurler Jessie Probst (2-3) pitched masterfully in the second game, limiting the Lions to three hits while striking out four batters for the complete-game shutout.
Junior Alana Tabel (7-2) was credited with the loss, pitching seven strong innings while scattering four hits and allowing the only run of the contest. The right-hander struck out eight batters and shrunk her team-leading earned run average to a dominant 1.23 despite the loss.
The Green and Gold continue its busy week with a Wednesday night doubleheader against American International beginning at 5 p.m. Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through www.saintleolions.com.
For more information on the Saint Leo softball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
