SAINT LEO, Fla. – A night removed from a pair of pitcher's duels, the Saint Leo softball team exploded for 17 runs in its doubleheader sweep of the visiting American International College on Wednesday at University Softball Stadium.
The Lions issued an 8-0 trouncing in the opening contest before concluding the set with a 9-2 win. The victories improve the Green and Gold season tally to an 18-7 mark while the Yellow Jackets begin their 2015 campaign with a 0-4 skid.
Senior Angela Kafalas was the first game hero, hitting her fourth and fifth home runs in a perfect 2-for-2 outing. The Yellow Jackets intentionally walked the offensive player in her third at-bat as Kafalas led the Lions to an 8-0 shutout to begin the double-feature.
Sophomore Michelle George led the second contest, hitting a pristine 3-for-3 to drive in four RBI to increase her team lead to 27 total RBI on the season. The first-baseman added a triple in the first game to conclude the day with four hits and two runs scored.
Senior McKenzie Burns finished the two game set with three hits, three runs and two RBI. The centerfielder swiped two bags to increase her team lead to 20 total on the season.
The Lions earned a shutout in the first game as the offense was too much for the Yellow Jackets to handle. Kafalas led a torrid scoring attack in the first contest, highlighted by a perfect 2-for-2 outing which the senior blasted two solo home runs.
Burns hit 2-for-3 with a pair each of runs and RBI while swiping a base while senior Adriana Sanders picked up two RBI on a base-knock as Saint Leo ravaged the Yellow Jackets in game one of the doubleheader.
Senior Ashley Ehlers (5-4) pitched a five-inning, two-hit shutout to pick up her fifth win of the season. The right-hander struck out eight batters without issuing a walk in the complete game victory.
AIC starting pitcher Jillian Bedard (0-2) was credited with the loss, tossing 3.1 innings while allowing six earned runs off of 10 hits.
Saint Leo's offense carried into the second game, as the Lions scored four runs in the first inning alone. Senior Cassie Boggs plated two runs after placing a two-bagger in the leftfield corner before George and Brittany Creamer each added RBI singles in the premier inning.
Kafalas and Sanders each scored a runner off of a single to begin the second stanza. After a lightning-delay in the frame, George plated a pair of runners on another base-hit to push the Lions to an 8-1 lead after two complete innings.
The Lions padded the lead with George's fourth RBI of the game as the sophomore was perfect 3-for-3 for the second contest. The scoring ended at 9-2 as weather forced an early decision for the nightcap.
Junior Alana Tabel (8-2) entered in relief for the win, tossing 1.1 innings without allowing a baserunner, striking out three of the four batters she faced. Freshman Samantha Tyler started in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings while surrendering a lone earned run off four Yellow Jacket hits.
Alyssa Camargo (0-2) started in the circle for the Yellow Jackets, throwing five inning while allowing nine runs total with only a pair being recorded as earned. The right-hander allowed 11 hits and struck out two for her second loss of the season.
The Lions return to University Softball Stadium on Friday, facing Caldwell for a 4 p.m. start time. Live stats will be made 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.
