Box Score SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo sophomore Jordan Pendleton fanned eight Eckerd College batters over five-and-a-third innings of relief to help lead the Lions to an 11-9 win over the Tritons, in Friday night's first game of a three-game Sunshine State Conference baseball series at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
Pendleton came on with two outs in the fourth, a two-run lead, and the tying run at the plate. He got Grant Banko to fly out to left field to get out of the frame, and proceeded to strike out at least two batters in each of the next three innings while retiring the Tritons in order in the sixth and seventh.
Pendleton chalked up two more strikeouts in the ninth to match his season high with eight, one shy of his career high.
Meanwhile, the Saint Leo bats were firing on all cylinders right out of the gate.
The Lions batted around in the first inning to post eight runs on 10 hits, including a two-run single by Mike Mann and a two-run triple later in the frame by Derek Gibree. Chase Turner, Alex Mata, and Troy Sieber each charted RBI singles – twice, in Sieber's case – to give Saint Leo an 8-2 lead after the first inning.
Eckerd rallied with four runs in the top of the fourth in three hits to cut the margin to 8-6, with two runs crossing on Mitch Calandra's double down the left field line.
Saint Leo tacked on two more runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 10-6, courtesy Sieber's third RBI single of the night and Mata's sacrifice fly to right field.
Mata doubled down the left field line in the eighth to bring home pinch runner Tully Allen for an 11-6 Saint Leo lead. Mata's double was his 19th of the season and 44th of his career, tying the redshirt junior for fourth among Saint Leo's career doubles leaders with Cliff Champion (1984-87).
Eckerd posted three runs in the top of the ninth, two of those on a triple by Banko, but would get no closer thanks to Pendleton's strikeouts on Justin Glover and O'Rourke to end the game.
Sieber finished the night 4-for-5 with three runs batted in, while Mata was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Turner was 3-for-5 at the plate and scored three runs. Shane Williams, Zach Daley, Mike Mann, and Daniel DiMare each had two hits as the Lions amassed 18 hits off Eckerd pitching.
Eckerd finished the night with 16 hits, led by Calandra with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with two RBI. Jack O'Rourke had three hits for the Tritons, while Garrett Hiott and Nick Hill had two hits each.
Triton starter Jack Mahan was chased after two-thirds of an inning, after allowing all 10 hits and eight runs in the first. Jack Silberman came on for Mahan and held Saint Leo to three hits over his four-and-a-third innings of work, before Kevin Kane started the sixth inning and allowed three runs on five hits.
Saint Leo and Eckerd conclude the series with a doubleheader on Sunday, May 1, at 1:00 p.m. at Southard Stadium. The Lions will also recognize their senior class of Danny Henriquez, Zach Daley, and Michael Dunnigan during pre-game ceremonies.
For more on the Saint Leo baseball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Also, be sure to 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and 'Follow' Saint Leo Athletics on Twitter and Instagram.
