SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 14 Saint Leo completed the three game sweep over Nova Southeastern in a five inning first game and a six inning second game on Saturday afternoon at University Softball Stadium.

The Lions improve to 12-0 on the season and 3-0 in Sunshine State Conference play. The 12 wins to start the season has tied the second best start to a season as they have pushed their win streak to 23 games.

Saint Leo was led in the circle by Alana Tabel and Samantha Tyler. Tabel won the first game, her third of the year, giving up just two hits and no runs with four strikeouts. Tyler won the second game, her fourth of the year, with four hits and five strikeouts.

GAME ONE

The lions jumped out in front with three runs in the bottom of the first before one in the second and four in the fourth to win the game in five innings. Tiffany Thompson led off with a bunt single and then stole second. Rachael Heath followed her with a bunt single moving Thompson over to third. Heath stole second putting runners on second and third with no outs before Brooke Samios-Uy doubled to left field scoring Thompson.

Heath scored on a passed ball as Samios-Uy advanced to third scoring on a sacrifice fly to left field by Ciera Schumaker. Nova Southeastern would get out of the inning with no more damage.

Saint Leo added one in the second as Sommer Pollard reached on a bunt, stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw by the catcher. Thompson would ground out to the shortstop allowing Pollard to come in to push the game to 4-0.

The Lions would tack on four more in the fourth  as Samios-Uy would hit a bases loaded triple to right center and came around to score on the next play as Samantha Ohmie grounded out.

Saint Leo was led offensively by Brooke Samios-Uy who went 2-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored and four RBI. Pollard went 2-for-2 with two runs score to help the Lions end it in five innings. Tabel closed the door on the Sharks in the top of the fifth getting the first two batters to ground out and striking out the last batter.

GAME TWO

In game two on the afternoon, Saint Leo took down the Sharks in six innings with eight runs. The Lions scored one in the second, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth. Samantha Tyler got her win in the circle after pitching six innings allowing just four hits with five strikeouts. Tyler helped the Lions complete the sweep and kept the Sharks scoreless in the three game series, being outscored 38-0.

Things got started in the bottom of the second as Danielle Ferrara reached on a single to center field and moved to third after Brittany Creamer got hit by the pitch and a passed ball. A Danielle Bottley grounder would allow Ferrara to come in and score from third.

Ferrara would do it herself as she blasted a solo home run to dead center field charting the lone run in the fourth inning for Saint Leo pushing the Lions lead to 2-0 through four complete innings.

Saint Leo tacked on two in the bottom of the fifth as Thompson walked and stole second, and then advanced to third as Heath laid down a bunt. On the bunt, Heath reached on a throwing error by the pitcher and came all the way around the bases to score.

The Lions would close the game in the bottom of the sixth with four runs on two hits. Creamer started things off with a single to right center and moved to second on a fielding error by the right fielder. With the bases loaded, Thompson walked bringing one run in. Samios-Uy would be the final batter to the plate as she grounded to the pitcher but reached on a muffed throw and was thrown out at third by the first baseman, but allowing three runners to score to get the Lions to an 8-0 lead to end the game.

Saint Leo was led by Creamer who went 2-for-2 on the game with one run and Ferrara who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI on her lone home run.

UP NEXT

Saint Leo will host West Virginia Wesleyan on Thursday, March 3rd in a double-header at University Softball Stadium at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 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.