TAMPA, Fla. – No. 4-ranked Saint Leo completed the sweep from Tampa (5-0 and 4-1) on Saturday, April 9th at Naimoli Family Softball Field to improve to 34-1 and 17-1 in Sunshine State Conference play on the year.
With the victory, the Lions extended their win streak to 20 games marking the longest win streak in a single season and is the second longest consecutive win streak (2015-16 connecting seasons). With the game one shutout, Saint Leo has 21 shutouts on the year thus far and is just one shy of the 2006 record of 22. The two loses push Tampa to 13-17, 5-10 SSC.
Alana Tabel and Stephanie Adkins picked up wins on the day as Tabel pitched game one and went the distance giving up four hits and recorded three strikeouts. Adkins came in relief in the second game and pitched four innings, allowing just one hit and had two strikeouts. Samantha Tyler, the starter for game two, pitched four innings gave up four hits and one run with seven strikeouts. Tabel moves to 12-0 on the season as Adkins sits at 16-1.
Sommer Pollard led the way from the plate as she was 3-for-7 from the dish for a .429 batting average. Tiffany Thompson followed her up going 3-for-8 from the box for a .375 average. Thompson, Brittany Creamer and Rachael Heath all scored two runs on the day as Heath drove in three runs in game one.
Michelle George joined Creamer in the two runs batted in category for the day. Hitting extra base hits today were Ceira Schumaker, Bailey McKenna, Creamer, Heath and George. Schumaker, George and McKenna all recorded doubles as Creamer and Heath had triples.
GAME ONE - #4 Saint Leo 5, Tampa 0
Saint Leo came away with their 33rd win of the year after defeating Tampa 5-0 in game one on Saturday, April 9th. The Lions picked up the 16th SSC win of the year behind Alana Tabel's 12th victory in the circle.
Tabel, 12-0, pitched the complete game giving up four hits and no runs with three strikeouts. Tabel walked into the circle in the fifth inning with a perfect game going before giving up a single to the leadoff batter. Tabel was able to hold off the Spartans for her 10th complete game of the year and seventh shutout.
Offensively, the Lions were led by Tiffany Thompson who went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with two runs and a walk. Rachael Heath drove in three runs and was 1-for-3 with a triple and run scored. Bailey McKenna was 2-for-3 in the eighth hole.
Saint Leo scored first as Thompson laid down a bunt single to start off the game. Heath gave herself up to move Thompson to second for Brooke Samios-Uy. Samios-Uy reached on a error by the first baseman allowing Thompson to come around to score.
The Lions and Spartans would go scoreless over the next five innings before Saint Leo posted four runs in the top of the seventh off the bat of Heath. With the bases loaded and the fielder's playing in with one out, Heath smacked the ball to the left field wall allowing all three runs to come across before coming in for a run herself on an error.
Despite giving up two hits in the bottom of the seventh, Tabel was able to work the side and end the game with no harm done.
GAME TWO - # 4 Saint Leo 4, Tampa 1 (8 innings)
It took extra innings but the Lions prevailed 4-1 over the Spartans in eight innings with a three run eighth. Stephanie Adkins came in for a relief appearance and picked up the win for her 16th win of the year.
Samantha Tyler started the day and went four innings with four hits, one run and seven strikeouts as Adkins went four innings herself and allowed just one hit with two strikeouts.
Brittany Creamer was the offensive leader as she went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI with one walk. Sommer Pollard was second on the team from the plate as she went 2-for-4 for the game.
The Lions got the first run of the game in the top of the second as Brittany Creamer led off with a single followed by a Michelle George double. On George's double, Creamer came around from second to score after reaching second on a passed ball.
Tampa tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as the Spartans' Bre Setree led off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. Setree would come in for the score on a single through the left side from Alyssa Bache.
The game would head to extras as both Tampa's pitcher, Alyssa Bache, and Stephanie Adkins settled the game down and held the opposition scoreless until the top of the eighth inning. A Creamer triple would drive in Heath and Schumaker before coming in herself on a fielder's choice for George. George grounded to the second baseman but Creamer got under the tag at home to score.
Adkins came into the bottom of the inning and worked the side in order with a fly out to right field and two ground outs to shortstop.
UP NEXT
Saint Leo hosts Florida Tech Tuesday, April 12th at 6pm to kick off the mid-week three-game series at University Softball Stadium.
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.
