SAINT LEO, Fla. – Reaching the program's 20th win of the season, the Saint Leo University softball team bested both No. 14 Caldwell College and Queens (N.Y.) on Friday evening at University Softball Stadium.
The Lions earned a 4-0 shutout victory over the No.14-ranked Cougars before dealing the Knights of Queens College a 5-1 loss. The pair of wins improves the Green and Gold season tally to a 20-7 mark while Caldwell opens its season 1-1. The Knights concluded Friday evening with a 2-5 record.
Junior Alana Tabel (9-2) pitched a complete-game shutout against the No. 14 ranked Cougars, scattering four hits while striking out six batters for her ninth win of the season.
Freshman Brittany Creamer decimated a 2-0 pitch over the centerfield fence to score a pair of runs and tally her third home run of the season. Centerfielder McKenzie Burns hit 2-for-3 in the first game, stealing a pair of bases in the 4-0 win.
Caldwell hurler Sydney Ponto (0-1) was credited with a loss in her first start of the season, pitching five innings while allowing two runs off five hits.
The second game began with a quick run from the Knights in the first inning. The scoring ceased until the fifth inning as the Lions plated a runner after Adriana Sanders led off the inning with a double. Senior Cassie Boggs hit a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 1-1 after five complete innings.
The tied score was quickly broken up an inning later, as offensive player Angela Kafalas hit a two-run triple into the right-field corner. The Lions concluded the inning with four runs to give the Green and Gold its 20th win of the season in 5-1 fashion.
Senior Ashley Ehlers (6-4) earned the win, pitching three shutout innings in relief. The right-hander struck out three batters without allowing a baserunner in the final three innings of play.
Freshman Samantha Tyler started in the circle for Saint Leo, pitching four innings while allowing a single unearned run, scattering four hits and striking out six batters in the no decision.
Knights hurler Monique Roberge (0-2) was tabbed with the loss, pitching a single inning while allowing the go-ahead runs behind two hits and three walks.
The Lions will continue their March tournament with another doubleheader on Saturday, meeting No. 11 LIU-Post at noon before battling Dominican College at 4 p.m. Live stats will be provided 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.
