SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 11 ranked Saint Leo took two games from No. 15 ranked Caldwell on Tuesday, March 15th by a combined score of 12-1 in 12 innings at University Softball Stadium to improve to 23-1 on the season.
The Lions are now 14-0 at home on the year and have a nine game winning streak in order. Saint Leo was led today in the circle by pitchers Stephanie Adkins and Alana Tabel. Adkins pitched game one and finished with six hits, one run, two walks and eight strikeouts for her ninth win of the season, going to 9-1. Tabel pitched game two holding the Cougars scoreless through five innings while giving up just two hits, one walk and recording five strikeouts. Tabel improves to 9-0 on the year.
On the day, Bailey McKenna went 2-for-2 in game two with one RBI for the Lions. Throughout both games, five players finished with a .500 batting average led by Sommer Pollard who went 3-for-6 with four RBI. Pollard would end game two with a walk off single scoring Danielle Bottley.
Joining Pollard with a .500 batting average was Stephanie Adkins, 2-for-4, Ciera Schumaker, 2-for-4, Michelle George, 1-for-2, and Elizabeth Diaz, 1-for-2. Adkins and Schumaker both finished with two runs scored as Adkins had three RBI and Schumaker had one.
In total for the day, the Lions scattered 16 hits to the Cougars eight and combined for a .390, while holding Caldwell to a .182 batting average.
GAME ONE – No. 11 Saint Leo 4, No. 15 Caldwell 1
Saint Leo took game one 4-1 in seven innings to move to 22-1 on the year. The Lions went on top in the bottom of the first after Rachael Heath would bunt her way on and round the bases. Heath stole second and came around to score on a Schumaker single that went up the middle.
Saint Leo once again put one run on the board in the bottom of the third as Tiffany Thompson led off with a single. Heath moved her over with a sacrifice bunt and came in to score on an illegal pitch.
Caldwell would plate one run in the top of the fifth on a double by Brielle Reighn which scored Caitlin McCready from first.
The Lions would score two in the bottom of the sixth. Schumaker led off with a double to right center before she stole third. Adkins helped her own cause and singled to right field scoring Schumaker. Pollard would come up with two on and single through the left side plating Brittany Creamer.
Stephanie Adkins would close the door in the top of the seventh by a groundout, fouled pop up and a strike out. Adkins finished her day with eight strikeouts in 30 batters faced.
GAME TWO – No. 11 Saint Leo 8, No. 15 Caldwell 0 (5 innings)
Saint Leo improved their home record and overall record with a five inning 8-0 win over the Cougars in the second game of the doubleheader. Alana Tabel won game two, her ninth overall, after going the distance with just two hits given up and one walk. Tabel finished with five strikeouts against her 17 batters faced.
Quick out the gates, Saint Leo punched five on the board in the bottom of the first. Thompson walked to start off things, stole second and eventually stole third. Adkins came to the plate with bases loaded and one out and walked advancing all runners and scoring Thompson from third.
Following a pitching change for the Cougars, Brittany Creamer doubled to center field scoring both Schumaker and Brooke Samios-Uy. Bailey McKenna, who got the nod for game two in right field, hit a single down the left field line keeping the bases loaded and scoring Adkins.
Sommer Pollard came to the plate and grounded out to third but not before scoring Creamer. The Cougars finally got out of the inning after five Saint Leo runs.
The Lions tacked on a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to go on for their 8-0 victory. In the third, Pollard singled to the shortstop scoring Adkins from third. An Adkins single in the bottom of the fourth scored George before a walk off single by Pollard in the fifth ended the game. Elizabeth Diaz singled up the middle to start the fifth inning off. Danielle Bottley pinch ran for Diaz, stealing second right away and coming around on the Pollard single.
UP NEXT
No. 11 Saint Leo returns to Sunshine State Action on Friday, March 18th when they host Florida Southern in game one of a three game series over the weekend. The Friday night game is slated for a 7pm start.
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.
