SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 9 Saint Leo swept the series from Florida Southern after a 6-0 win on Sunday, March 20th in the series finale at University Softball Stadium for their 26th win of the year.
With the victory, the Lions move to 26-1 and 11-1 in Sunshine State Conference play. Saint Leo is on a 12-game winning streak and a 22-home game win streak, dating back to the 2015 season. Samantha Tyler threw five shutout innings to pick up her sixth win of the year, giving up just four hits and two strikeouts. Alana Tabel came in relief and pitched two innings and gave up just one hit. The combined shutout by Tyler and Tabel is the 17th one this year for the Lions' pitching staff.
Florida Southern's Brandi Jones took the loss for the Moccasins and moves to 5-8 on the year with 4.1-innings pitched. Jones gave up seven hits and two earned runs and recorded two strikeouts.
Ciara McCoy hit a pinch hit single to finish the game at 1-for-1 and one run scored. Brooke Samios-Uy went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Rachael Heath, Ciera Schumaker, Stephanie Adkins and Brittany Creamer all recorded an RBI in the game. Creamer recorded the game winning RBI.
An early pitcher's duel would end in the bottom of the fourth when Saint Leo punched one across as Adkins came around after reaching on a fielder's choice. Creamer recorded the first RBI of the game when she singled to right field.
The Lions scored two in the bottom of the fifth as Tiffany Thompson, Heath and Samios-Uy all hit singles with one out before Schumaker grounded out to second base. Heath came in to score the final run of the inning as the Moccasins shortstop could not field the ball and was charged with an error allowing Adkins to reach first.
Saint Leo tacked on three more in the sixth as McCoy led off with her first career hit in her first at bat in the Green and Gold. Sommer Pollard followed McCoy in the box and laid down a sacrifice which moved McCoy to second. Another Mocs' shortstop error allowed McCoy to reach third and Thompson to reach base safely. McCoy came in to score on a throwing error by the catcher, who was trying to get Thompson going to second. Heath came to the plate with one out and hit a triple to left field scoring Thompson. The final run of the game would come off the bat of Samios-Uy who hit a sacrifice fly to left field allowing Heath to cross the plate.
Tabel, who came in for Tyler in the sixth inning, shut the door on Florida Southern recording two ground outs and a strikeout.
UP NEXT
The Lions hit the road after a 10-game home stand and travel to Barry for a Thursday- Friday series with the Buccaneers. Thursday's single game starts at 7pm where Friday's doubleheader is slated for 12 and 2pm.
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.
