SAINT LEO, Fla. – In its final two home games of the regular season, the Saint Leo University softball team swept its Senior Day doubleheader to take all-three games of its series against Eckerd College on Saturday afternoon at University Softball Stadium.
The Lions rolled to an 8-3 win in the opening contest before completing the sweep with a 6-0 shutout against the Tritons to improve to 33-12 on the season and 9-9 in Sunshine State Conference play.
Eckerd returns home with a 28-16 record and an 8-13 mark in SSC action continuing its conference skid.
Seniors Angela Kafalas and Cassie Boggs led the charge, as the duo combined for eight hits and seven RBI between the two contests. Kafalas ended with four hits, including a two-run homer, while totaling three RBI and two runs scored. Boggs finished with four each of hits and RBI as the duo competed in their last home contest this season.
Junior Tiffany Thompson added four hits and two runs scored between the two games as sophomore Michelle George notched three hits and three RBI to round out the dominating day at the plate.
The Lions offense surged in the first contest of the doubleheader, as the Green and Gold scored eight runs behind a nine-hit effort. Saint Leo clinched a series win as senior Boggs scored half of the Lions' runs in the first bout, hitting 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Fellow senior Adriana Sanders scored two each in runs and RBI, adding a hit in the opening game.
Kafalas notched two hits and a run scored while adding a walk for the Green and Gold as seven batters tallied a hit to defeat Eckerd 8-3 in the first contest.
Freshman Samantha Tyler (7-2) earned the win, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The right-hander totaled seven innings, allowing three hits and a single earned run, striking out a career-high 11 strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Amber Hay (17-11) was tabbed with her second loss in as many days, yielding eight runs off of nine hits while issuing four walks in her six innings of work.
Saint Leo picked up right where it left off, scoring three runs as George added a two RBI single in the premier frame. The Lions begin game two with a 3-0 lead over Eckerd.
The Green and Gold would tack on another pair of runs in the third, as Kafalas launched her second home run in as many days and her team-leading ninth of the season. The offensive dynamo totaled six RBI against Eckerd with six hits and two home runs.
Senior Ashley Ehlers (12-5) pitched a masterful complete-game shutout to pick up the win. The right-hander tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, striking out 10 batters to shutdown the Triton attack and give the Lions their 33rd win of the season.
Eckerd starting pitcher Erin Dixson was tabbed with the loss, throwing 2.1 innings while giving up five runs after six Saint Leo hits.
The Green and Gold will continue its season with a SSC road series against Lynn University on Friday, April 17 scheduled for a 3 p.m. start. 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.
