SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 8 Saint Leo softball started off their home portion of their schedule with a 7-0 win over Sunshine State Conference provisional member Embry-Riddle at University Softball Stadium under the Friday night lights.

Saint Leo (13-3) saw Stephanie Adkins win her seventh game of the year after a seven inning complete game appearance. Adkins went the distance giving up just five hits on the night with seven strikeouts in the 26 batters faced. Adkins ended the night with seven fly outs and six grounds outs, the exact way she ended the nightcap with a grounder to second base.

Samantha Ohmie and Rachael Heath were the offensive powers in the game as Ohmie went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Heath 3-for-3 with a home run and a RBI. Ohmie scored one run as Heath scored three. Heath's home run was her second of her career. 

Heath started things off in the bottom of the first inning after battling at the plate taking the 3-2 pitch, and eighth of the at bat, to deep center field for a solo home run.

The Lions and Eagles went scoreless in the second inning before Saint Leo tacked on another in the bottom of the third. Alyssa Wash was the run in the third after she started the inning with a double down the left field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Heath. Ohmie would drive in Wash from third with a single to the fringe of the infield on the left side.

Neither of the two teams could add a run in the fourth keeping the game 2-0 in favor of Saint Leo heading to the fifth. The Lions blew it open in the bottom of the fifth inning after posting a four-spot in the inning to take a 6-0 lead. In the sixth, Heath, Ohmie, Kacie Kelly and Ciera Schumaker would all get credit for scoring a run.

Heath started the bottom of the fifth with a bunt single and swiped second to put herself in scoring position with Kelly due up. Kelly laid down a bunt and advanced to second on an error before moving to third on an Ohmie single to right field scored Heath. Schumaker stepped up with runners on the corners and hit a two-run double to right center for two RBI. Brittany Creamer followed Schumaker's double with a double of her own pushing Schumaker to third. Bailey McKenna grounded out to the shortstop allowing Schumaker to cross the plate with two outs.

The Lions would add their seventh and final run of the game in the sixth as Heath reached on her second straight bunt single and came around on an Ohmie single through the left side.

Adkins stepped in the circle in the top of the seventh and shut down the Eagles after giving up a single to start the last inning. Following the single, Adkins recorded her seventh strikeout of the game putting the pressure on the Eagles to do something late in the game with one on and one out. An error at second base for the Lions allowed all runners to be safe before Adkins got the next two batters to ground into a fielder's choice and a straight out at first.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Embry-Riddle return to University Softball Stadium to play a doubleheader to round out the three-game series starting at 12:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 25.

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.