SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo softball pounded out 16 runs on 23 hits off Colorado Christian pitchers and completed a doubleheader sweep over the Cougars, 7-0 and 9-1, in Saturday's home opener for the Lions at the University Softball Stadium.
In the first game, junior pitcher Stephanie Adkins mowed down seven Colorado Christian batters on strikeouts, while scattering three hits in the complete game shutout win.
Adkins got all the run support she would need in the first inning, when freshman Brooke Samios-Uy's sac fly to center allowed junior Danielle Bottley to score. Bottley got aboard with a bunt single to lead off the game.
The Lions plated two more runs in the second when junior Samantha Ohmie belted a triple to right center and later stole home. Sophomore Sommer Pollard singled home freshman Morgan Mobley later in the frame.
Saint Leo's four-run fifth inning, keyed by Ohmie's two-out, two-run home run to center, all but clinched the game for the Lions.
Ohmie finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a triple, two runs and two RBI, while Samios-Uy charted a 2-for-3 game with two runs driven in.
Letty Valenzuela had two of the Cougars' three hits. CCU starter Tana Feiner was tagged with the loss after allowing all seven runs on nine hits over five innings of work.
In game two, the Lions again posted runs in the opening inning, this time on a bases loaded walk issue to sophomore Ciera Schumaker and sophomore Brittany Creamer's sac fly to center later in the inning.
Most of Saint Leo's runs came in the fourth when the Lions plated seven runs on seven hits, five of which were for extra bases. Pollard tripled on a rip to center to score two runs, and senior Tiffany Thompson's sac fly to left scored Pollard. Schumaker singled home Samios-Uy and senior Danielle Ferrara later in the inning, and Creamer drove in Schumaker with a double to left-center. Ohmie capped the scoring with a double into center field, plating Creamer.
Sophomore Samantha Tyler got the start for Saint Leo, and struck out one Colorado Christian batter while allowing one run on three hits in three complete innings of work. Senior Alana Tabel came on to start the fourth for the Lions, and fanned three of the seven batters she faced over two innings to slam the door on the Cougars. Tabel picked up the win for her efforts, while Colorado Christian starter Shelby Diffenderfer took the loss after yielding two runs, both earned, in 1.1 innings in the circle.
Schumaker finished with three RBI on a 1-for-2 game two at the plate for the Lions, while Samios-Uy, Ferrara, Ohmie, and Pollard each had a pair of hits. Creamer and Pollard each had two RBI.
Saint Leo returns to action on Friday, Feb. 19, when it travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., to face Embry-Riddle University. Game one of the three-game series against the Sunshine State Conference provisional member starts at 6:00 p.m., while the doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 20, starts at 1:00 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.
