Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior Alex Mata's 11th inning solo home run to left-center field led Saint Leo baseball to a 9-8 walk-off victory over the University of Montevallo, in both teams' 2016 season opener on Friday night at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
Mata's game-winning blast on a 1-1 pitch capped a dramatic come-back effort for the Lions (1-0), who trailed the Falcons, 8-2, after four complete innings.
Saint Leo's rally began in the fifth, with five Lion runs on four hits, a walk, and a dropped third strike. A bases load single by Mata and a two-run double by junior Troy Sieber accounted for three of the runs, and freshman catcher Mike Mann plated a fourth run on his base hit through the left side.
Junior Zach Sabo's fielder's choice grounder to second was bobbled during the unassisted putout allowing Sabo to reach safely, but also allowed Sieber to score on the play.
Montevallo clung to its 8-7 lead for the next three innings as neither team was able to push any more runs across, with Saint Leo retiring the Falcon side in the sixth and eighth innings.
Saint Leo knotted the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the game into extra innings. Junior Nick Boland drew a two-out walk to keep the comeback hopes alive, and speedy freshman Tully Allen went into the game as a pinch runner for Boland. Pinch hitter Zach Daley crushed a double off the left field fence, allowing Allen to come around and tie the game.
After a scoreless 10th inning and a three-up, three-down 11th for Montevallo, Mata took his third pitch over the fence to end the game.
Freshman Derek Gibree finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, and crossed for Saint Leo runs in the third and fifth innings. Mata tallied three hits with two runs batted in, while Sieber and Mann each went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Junior righthander Zach Whitaker logged the win in six complete innings of masterful relief work. Whitaker allowed just one hit with five strikeouts, and only allowed one Falcon baserunner to advance past second base. Montevallo reliever Taylor Burr was tagged with the loss in his one inning of work that lasted 15 pitches.
Montevallo's Daniel Pardo, Taylor Walker, and Jeremy Hyde each had two hits for the Falcons, with Pardo crossing for a pair of runs.
The three-game series between Saint Leo and Montevallo continues on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Southard Stadium, and concludes with game three on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
For the latest news, updates and 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.
