FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the Lions' Sunshine State Conference opener, No. 8 Saint Leo defeated Nova Southeastern 6-0 with a five-run fifth inning on Friday night at the AD Griffin Sports Complex.

Saint Leo (16-4, 1-0 SSC) and Nova Southeastern (6-10, 1-3 SSC) found themselves in a pitcher's duel going into the fifth inning where neither team could get a runner home prior to the top of the inning.

Stephanie Adkins got the nod for the Lions and picked up her ninth win of the year after the seven-inning complete game. Adkins gave up five hits with no runs and two walks while striking out eight of the 28 batters she faced.

Brittany Creamer and Danielle Bottley would end the game going 2-3 from the plate with one run scored as Creamer drove in one. Sommer Pollard found her way in the box as she went 2-4 from the dish with one run scored and one RBI. Kacie Kelly continues to prove herself in the three-hole driving in two runs in the game with one hit.

Saint Leo posted a five-spot in the top of the fifth inning. The Sharks got themselves into a mess in the top of the inning where they recorded two errors to allow the Lions to score runs. Saint Leo started things off as Brittany Creamer singled to right field. An error by the shortstop allowed Creamer to score and Michelle George and Danielle Bottley to advance to second and third, respectively.

Bottley would come in to score as Rachael Heath reached on a fielder's choice. George, Heath and Sommer Pollard would all come in to score for the Lions in the inning before the Sharks could retire the final out of the inning.

Adkins would come out in the bottom half of the fifth and retire the first batter with a strikeout before a single put a runner on. A fly ball and a strikeout would strand the runner at second to end the inning.

A quick sixth inning for the Lions led to a shaky one in the bottom of the sixth before Adkins worked herself out of trouble, leaving a runner at third. Roe singled to shortstop before advancing to second on a passed ball and again to third on another passed ball before Adkins recorded another strikeout.

Saint Leo would tack on another run in the seventh as Samantha Ohmie got hit by a pitch with two outs. An error by the right fielder allowed Ohmie and Sarah Pauscher to stand on third and second, respectively. A Creamer line drive to first base would score Ohmie for the final run of the game.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. for the first game of the doubleheader.

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.