BOCA RATON, Fla. – Behind 14 shutout innings, the Saint Leo University softball team completed the sweep of Lynn University by taking the Saturday doubleheader at the Lynn Softball Field. The Green and Gold began the day with a 6-0 win before completing the shutout series with a 3-0 victory.
The three shutout games mark the first of the season that the Lions have blanked its opponent for a complete series, this set coming on a road series. The Lions improve to 36-12, with a 12-9 record in Sunshine State Conference play while the hosting Fighting Knights fall to 20-22 with a 10-11 mark in SSC matchups.
Senior Angela Kafalas and freshman Brittany Creamer each finished the day with four hits while the duo each added a home run on the day. Kafalas concluded with three RBI while catcher Tori Thomas added two RBI including her first career home run.
Freshman Samantha Tyler (8-2) started the first-game slugfest, a contest which saw six extra-base hits. The pitcher tossed a one-hit, complete-game shutout to pick up her eight win of the season while striking out seven batters and issuing two walks.
The Lions used back-to-back home runs to kick off the scoring in the opening contest. Sophomore Michelle George laced a triple down the right-field line before freshman Creamer launched a two-run shot over the left-center fence to give Saint Leo a 2-0 lead. An at-bat later, catcher Thomas blasted a solo homer, the first of the season for the redshirt sophomore, to push the Lions to a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
Tyler pitched a masterful third inning, sending all three batters she faced down on strikes to keep Lynn scoreless through three stanzas.
Junior Tiffany Thompson tacked on another run, scoring Sommer Pollard from second base to increase the Green and Gold lead to a 4-0 margin over the Fighting Knights.
Senior Kafalas decimated a 2-1 pitch for her team-leading 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to put the game at a 5-0 margin. The offensive player would add another run to the scoreboard in the sixth, scoring Thompson from second to increase the lead over the Fighting Knights to a 6-0 tally.
Lynn starting pitcher Missy Montgomery (12-7) was tabbed with the loss, pitching one inning of the game while yielding three runs off four hits. The Lions concluded the first contest of the day with a 6-0 shutout of the Fighting Knights
Saint Leo continued its offensive barrage into the second game of the doubleheader, as Thomas belted a two-bagger to the right-center gap to score Cassie Boggs and give the Lions a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Senior McKenzie Burns led off the third frame with a single before an errant throw caused the speedy centerfielder to score. Offensive juggernaut Kafalas continued to dominate the Lynn pitching staff with a RBI single to push the Green and Gold to a 3-0 lead after the top of the third stanza.
Senior Ashley Ehlers (13-5) was the third pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout over Lynn, earning her 13th win of the season. The right-hander allowed four hits across seven innings while striking out eight and no walks.
Francais Olexa (6-12) was the pitcher of record in the second game of the twin-bill. The Lions scored three runs behind a seven-hit effort to issue the hurler her second loss in as many days.
Saint Leo will close out the regular season with a weekend set against Florida Southern College beginning with a Friday night matchup on April 24 at 6 p.m.
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.
