SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo pounded its way through six Embry-Riddle pitchers to the tune of 14 hits and three home runs, producing a 16-4 win over the visiting Eagles and taking a split out of Sunday's non-conference doubleheader at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.

Embry-Riddle (22-12) posted a 12-7 win over Saint Leo in Sunday's first game, however the Lions won Friday's first game of the three-game set and claimed victory in the series.

Saint Leo (20-14) jumped all over Embry-Riddle in the second inning of game two, posting seven runs on five hits. A two-run single by Chase Turner helped the Lions grab a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the second, and Troy Sieber followed up with a three-run home run to left field later in the frame to give Saint Leo a 7-1 advantage.

Lane Stancil plated two more Saint Leo runs in the third with a two-out double to make the score 9-2 in the Lions' favor, and three singles to open the fourth contributed to an 11-2 Saint Leo lead after four complete.

Embry-Riddle scratched out two runs in the top of the fifth on Jonathan Camp's two-out double down the left field line, cutting the margin to 11-4. However a two-run bomb by Alex Mata in the sixth, a Zach Gary solo shot – his second career home run –  in the seventh, and two insurance runs in the ninth allowed the Lions to coast to the victory.

Saint Leo reliever Andrew Cohen allowed three runs, none earned, over his six innings of relief work, and picked up the win while improving to 2-4 on the season. He scattered seven hits while fanning two Eagle batters and walking two. Embry-Riddle's Troy Naab was charged with the loss, after surrendering nine runs over two innings on the mound.

Stancil and Sieber each charted three runs batted in, while Mata finished the day 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Sieber also had a pair of hits and crossed for three runs. A total of 24 Saint Leo players saw action in the contest, including a pinch hitting appearance by Michael Dunnigan in the eighth inning which resulted in the senior pitcher drawing a walk.

In game one, Saint Leo came out on the short end of a see-saw game, with Embry-Riddle finally securing the win with four runs over the final two innings.

After two scoreless innings, the Lions posted three runs in the bottom of the third on three hits, including a two-run single by Mike Mann.

The Eagles rallied to produce five runs in the top of the fourth off three hits and a pair of Saint Leo errors, and held a 5-3 lead midway through the frame. Shane Williams responded for the Lions in the bottom half of the inning with a mammoth three-run blast to right field, as Saint Leo regained the lead, 6-5, after four innings.

Embry-Riddle took the lead for good in the fifth, thanks to Camp's three-run round-tripper to right field to put the Eagles in front, 8-6.

Williams belted his second homer of the day on a solo shot in the seventh, pulling Saint Leo to within one at 8-7, but Embry-Riddle added two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to pad their lead. Tobias Moreno stroked a two-run double in the eighth to give the Eagles a 10-7 advantage, and ERAU got the first three batters aboard in the ninth and later plated two of those for the final 12-7 score.

Mata and Williams each had three hits for Saint Leo, with Williams recording five RBI. Mata, Williams, and Zach Daley each crossed the plate for two runs.

Zach Whitaker was tagged with the loss after coming on in relief of starter Dylan Collett in the fourth inning. Whitaker allowed six runs, five earned, and allowed eight hits, but struck out four Embry-Riddle batters while walking none.

ERAU's Kenny Burkhead caught the win, as he was the Eagles' pitcher of record when Embry-Riddle took the lead in the top of the fifth.

Saint Leo returns to Sunshine State Conference play this weekend when it travels to Boca Raton, Fla., to face Lynn University. The series begins with a single game on Friday, April 8, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9, starting at 12:00 p.m.

For the latest news, updates and information on the Saint Leo baseball 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.