CLEARWATER, Fla. – Head softball coach Erin Kinberger picked up her 150th career win as she led the Lions to two victories on Sunday at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex against Ursuline and No. 14 Florida Tech in the Eckerd Tournament. Saint Leo improved to 4-0 on the season after defeating Ursuline 4-0 in the first game and No. 14 Fla. Tech 15-0.
Saint Leo's bats came alive in their second day of play at the tournament as they posted four runs on 10 hits in their first game win over Ursuline and 15 runs on 17 hits over the No. 14 Florida Tech Panthers.
Both Lions' starters Samantha Tyler and Stephanie Adkins picked up wins marking Tyler's first of the year and Adkins' second of the season. Tyler pitched seven scoreless innings against Ursuline with 10 strikeouts and just two hits as Adkins pitched seven scoreless innings against the Panthers with nine strikeouts on just two hits.
With the two wins, Saint Leo's win streak, which is dating back to last year, is extended to 15 games as the Lions have not allowed a run in 15 innings.
GAME 1
It would take until the bottom of the third inning before either team got on the score board it happened to the Lions as Sommer Pollard led off with a walk before Tiffany Thompson sacrificed herself with a bunt to move Pollard over to second. Pollard would come around to score off a Brooke Samios-Uy triple to left center.
Saint Leo would score another run in the bottom of the fifth by the way of small ball. The Lions saw Samios-Uy single up the middle before a sac bunt from Brittany Creamer and a double from Morgan Mobley brought her in to give Saint Leo the 2-0 lead.
The Lions put two more on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Rachael Heath and Tiffany Thompson would both come around the bases to score.
Leading the offense were Brooke Samios-Uy, Danielle Bottley and Rachael Heath. Samios-Uy and Bottley both went 2-for-2 as Heath went 2-for-3.
Tyler would give up just three hits and walked only two walks, with 10 strikeouts in the 28 batters faced.
GAME 2
Saint Leo would explode in the runs and hitting category as a dominating performance from Stephanie Adkins kept the Panthers from scoring in the game. The Lions recorded 17 hits with 15 runs in the game.
Saint Leo would once again jump on the board first in the first inning as Danielle Bottley singled as the second batter of the game and would steal second to get in scoring position right away. Bottley moved to third after Brooke Samios-Uy ground out saw the pitcher throw her out at first. Brittany Creamer stepped up and singled to right field bringing in Bottley.
The Lions would tack on two more in each of the second and third innings and one in both the fourth anf fifth before being kept quiet in the sixth inning. Saint Leo got their run in the fourth inning thanks to a solo-shot from Samantha Ohmie on a 0-1 count to right field.
After the Panthers made a subsitute in the circle, Saint Leo would let have it with six hits and eighth runs. Ohmie and Alyssa Wash would both hit doubles as the Lions would bat around in the inning scoring eight runs. Saint Leo almost made it back around the lineup before the Panthers could record a single out.
Adkins would shut the door on the Panthers in the bottom of the seventh with three strikeouts, fanning nine for the game. She finished with giving up just two hits and walking three batters and had the nine strikeouts in the 25 batters faced.
Up Next
Saint Leo returns home for the home opener on Saturday, February 13th when they host Colorado Christian at 12 PM and at 2 PM in part of a double-header at University Softball Stadium.
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.
