SAINT LEO, Fla.- Saint Leo baseball completes the series win over Florida Tech, splitting the Saturday doubleheader 9-0 Panthers, and 12-6 Lions. The split decision today puts the Lions at 21-5 on the season with a 2-4 conference record.

The day started bleak with Captain Liam O'Sullivan getting shelled for seven runs in 2.2 innings. Florida Tech hitters jumped all over each strike they saw as they belted their way to a 9-0 victory.  Catcher Austin Allen, who didn't play in the Friday night game, went 4-5 with three RBI including a huge home run over the centerfield batter's eye. 

In the first game, sophomore Dylan Harris laid down a textbook bunt to continue his hit streak up to 22 games. Unfortunately the streak would end in game two today despite the offensive explosion by the Lions' offense. 

The game started with Florida Tech on the board early jumping out to a two run lead. In the bottom of the third, Saint Leo was able to fight back getting three runs on an RBI single from Bobby Twitty, and RBI triple from Taylor Perez, and a sac RBI from Dylan Harris.  Then in the top of the fourth, the Panthers hit a solo home run off Jordan Taylor to return the game to even. 

In the bottom of the fourth, designated hitter Nick Boland crushed a ball over the right field fence for a two run home run. It was sophomore Boland's third of the season and the momentum shifter for Saint Leo. The Lions would add another two runs to take a 7-3 lead that would maintain over the next few innings until the top of the eighth.

In the top of the eighth, a series of hits, walks, and hits batsmen led to a three run inning for the Panthers. With bases loaded and two outs, lefty Brandon Mumaw came in for a lefty lefty matchup.  The opposing coach decided he wanted to pinch hit a righty to create matchup problems. Mumaw was able to deliver a strikeout to end the inning and end the Panther rally.

In the bottom of the eight, Saint Leo was looking to add some insurance runs as the bats from Florida Tech could reawake at any moment.  Senior Nick Perez who has been in and out of action served as a leadoff pinch hitter and delivered an infield single.  Then, the speedy freshman Lane Stancil laid down a bunt and beat everyone to first advancing the runner. After a sac bunt by right fielder Bobby Twitty, Dale Irving stepped to the plate with two on and one out.  The gold glove catcher flashed his power as he put a ball over the left field fence for a three run insurance home run.  A couple batters later, second baseman Alex Mata matched Irvings power with a two run shot of his own creating a five run Saint Leo inning and pushed the lead to six.

Wesley Chapel, Florida native Brandon Mumaw came on for the ninth and closed out the victory for the Lions.

It was an exciting end to the series and hats off to both teams for an entertaining weekend. The Lions baseball team is back in action next weekend on the road at Eckerd for a three game series beginning Friday, March 20, and finishing with a doubleheader on March 21.

For more information on the Saint Leo baseball 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.