CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Saint Leo softball team opened the 2016 season with two victories at the Eckerd Spring Invitational Friday evening at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Lions defeated Chadron State in 8 innings, 4-2, and beat Shorter 6-2.
The Lions starting pitchers Alana Tabel and Stephanie Adkins both picked up wins to start the season. Tabel pitched in the first game recording eight strikeouts in all eight innings with two runs, one earned, seven hits and eight strikeouts. Adkins won the second game recording 11 strikeouts in the seven innings with two runs, one earned, seven hits and 11 strikeouts.
Tiffany Thompson led the offensive charge as she went 6-for-8 on the day with two runs scored and one RBI.
Saint Leo pushed their win-streak to 13 games, extending it from the end of the 2015 season. The Lions gave up their first run in 56.1 innings of work, dating back to the April 11th 2015.
GAME 1
Saint Leo and Chardon both recorded four scoreless innings before the Lions would put a run on the board first in the top of the fifth inning. Brittany Creamer got things started with a single to left field followed by a Danielle Bottley sacrifice bunt to move Creamer over. Creamer then advanced to third on a passed ball before getting across the plate on a Samantha Ohmie sacrifice fly to center field.
Senior Alana Tabel would work six scoreless innings before the Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game. Tabel worked out of the jam and the game would head to extra innings, tied 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, the Lions would put three runs across the plate as Rachael Heath reached first on a bunt, which advanced Ciara McCoy to third with no outs. Heath stole second to get into scoring position. Tiffany Thompson would stop up to the plate and single to left field bringing in both Heath and McCoy. Brooke Samios-Uy would hit what would be the game running run batted in as she singled to center field scoring Thompson from second.
Chardon State would try to tie the game once again in the bottom of the eighth as they scored one run cutting the Saint Leo lead to 4-2. Tabel would close the door on the Eagles as she got the final batter to fly out to right field, as the Lions went on for the 4-2 season opening victory.
GAME 2
Shorter jumped out to a one run lead in the top of the first before Saint Leo would answer back with four in the bottom of the first. Scoring runs in the bottom for the Lions were Brooke Samios-Uy, Michelle George, Brittany Creamer and Danielle Bottley.
Adkins would allow only one more run which came in the third inning before holding them scoreless on just three hits over the last four innings. She would strikeout six batters in those innings.
The Lions would add two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Rachael Heath led off with a single, followed by a Sommer Pollard sacrifice bunt. Tiffany Thompson would reach base on a fielder's choice and then come in to score with Heath off of a Morgan Mobley single to right center.
Up Next
Saint Leo returns to the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex to face Palm Beach Atlantic for one game Saturday, February 7th at 1:30 PM.
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.
