SAINT LEO, Fla. – The second-seeded Saint Leo University Lions, host of the NCAA South 2 Region, fell to third seeded-University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH) 9-7 to get knocked out of the NCAA postseason Friday at University Softball Stadium. The Lions ended the season with a 37-15 record. 

Saint Leo, the hosts for the NCAA South Region 2, saw seniors Rachael Heath, Michelle George and Samantha Ohmie collect multiple hits on the night where senior hurler Stephanie Adkins got the nod for the Lions and went five innings. Adkins allowed five runs, three earned, and 10 hits while striking out eight batters.

Heath and George both went 3-for-4 from the plate while Ohmie went 2-for-4. Despite recording a hit, Ciera Schumaker led the team in runs scored with two Friday afternoon. Kacie Kelly, Sarah Pauscher, Danielle Bottley, Heath, and Ohmie all scored one run.

Alison Mitts suffered the loss to end the season after pitching one inning and allowing four runs. Samantha Tyler made an appearance on the mound pitching one inning and allowing no hits or no runs against the three batters she faced.

Saint Leo got on the board first in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. With two outs, Ciera Schumaker walked and scored on a Samantha Ohmie double to right center. Stephanie Adkins took the mound with a 1-0 lead and gave up just one hit in the second inning before the Lions went in order in the bottom half.

The Chargers tied the game in the third inning but Saint Leo was able to strand three runners on to get out of the jam tied 1-1.

Alabama-Huntsville scored two in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead heading to the middle innings. Saint Leo went quietly in the fourth before a four-run fifth inning pushed the game to 5-3 in favor of the hosts.

The Chargers came right back and scored three in the top of the sixth to regain the lead 6-5. Rachael Heath laid down a two-out bunt single in the sixth to give the Lions hope to tie the game before a fly out to left field ended the inning.

UAH put a gap between themselves and Saint Leo with three runs in the top of the seventh for a 9-5 advantage. The Lions charged back scoring two in the bottom half before a soft groundout ended the game and eliminated Saint Leo from the postseason. In the bottom half, Sarah Pauscher started things off with a one-out single up the middle.

Bailey McKenna, who went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit single, hit the gap at third to move Pauscher to third. Michelle George's single up the middle plated both Pauscher and McKenna but ended up falling 9-7.

Saint Leo wrapped up their season with a 37-15 record, 17-7 mark in the Sunshine State Conference, the SSC title and a trip to the NCAA postseason.

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.

2017 South Region 2 Bracket - Tournament Page
Thursday, May 11
Game 1 – 12:00 pm - #7 North Alabama def. #2 Saint Leo, 10-4 (8 innings)
Game 2 – 3:00 pm – #6 Lee def. #3 Ala.-Huntsville, 7-4

Friday, May 12
Game 3 – 12:00 pm - #6 Lee def. #7 North Alabama
Game 4 – 3:00 pm - #3 Ala.-Huntsville def. #2 Saint Leo
Game 5 – 6:00 pm - #7 North Alabama def. #3 Ala.-Huntsville

Saturday, May 13
Game 6 – 12:00 pm - #7 North Alabama vs #6 Lee
*Game 7 – 3:00 pm - Loser Game 6 vs Winner Game 6
       *if necessary