SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo junior Alex Mata's single through the right side plated Troy Sieber for the game-winning run, lifting the Lions to a 7-6 walk-off victory over the University of Bridgeport, Wednesday night at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.

Sieber opened the Saint Leo ninth with a single up the middle, extending his hitting streak to 18 games. He advanced on catcher Mike Mann's sacrifice bunt and Zach Daley's grounder to second, setting the stage for Mata's two-out base hit to break a 6-6 tie in Saint Leo's favor.

The Lions (14-10) held a 5-0 lead after three innings, plating a single run in the second on Mata's RBI double to right center, and manufacturing four runs in the third on three hits, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Chase Turner drove in Saint Leo's first run of the frame on a sac fly to center field, and Shane Williams added another on his base hit into left field later in the inning.

Each team posted a run in the fifth to advance the score to 6-1 for Saint Leo, and Bridgeport added a single run in the sixth on Casey McCone's double to right center scoring Casey Ouellette.

Bridgeport's four-run uprising in the seventh inning, keyed by Ouellette's two-run double to right, tied the game at 6-6. Ouellette later scored on a double-steal of second and home, and the ensuing unsuccessful run-down attempt on the runner at second.

Mata finished the game 2-for-5 with three runs batted in, while Daley and Williams each recorded three hits and one RBI. Lane Stancil had a pair of hits to aid the Saint Leo cause, while Sieber scored two runs.

Reliever Jordan Pendleton picked up the win with his two-and-two-thirds innings of shutout work on the mound, allowing no hits with two strikeouts. Starter Michael Dunnigan turned in a solid performance through the first six innings, scattering five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. However, he allowed four of the first five batters he faced in the seventh to get aboard, and finished with a no-decision.

Bridgeport's Ouellette and Rivera each had two hits, while five other players had one hit apiece. Reliever Matt Van Riper capped the Bridgeport staff day by coming on to start the ninth, and was tagged with the loss after allowing Mata's game-winning single.

The Lions return to Sunshine State Conference play this Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19, when they host Rollins College at Thomas B. Southard Stadium. Friday's single game starts at 6:00 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader has a 1:00 p.m. start.

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