SAINT LEO, Fla. – The No. 23 Saint Leo softball picks up where it left off in 2017 and returns to the diamond against top NCAA Division II opponents to open the 2018 slate.

Opening Weekend …
The Lions will open their trip to Gulf Shores, Ala. with Delta State on Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. before taking on No. 3 West Florida at 3:30 p.m.
 
Saint Leo will use Saturday morning to rest up from the big Friday afternoon matchup before the Lions tango with Shorter at 4:45 p.m. and then turn around and meet the Lions of North Alabama at 7 p.m.
 
The Green and Gold will close out the weekend trip with two early games Sunday morning against Ala.-Huntsville at 10 a.m. before ending play with West Alabama at 12:15 p.m. SSC members in attendance at the GCI are Barry, Eckerd, Nova Southeastern and Rollins. 

Links ... (home team listed first)
Delta State vs #23 Saint Leo - Live Stats
#23 Saint Leo vs #3 West Florida  - Live Stats
#23 Saint Leo vs Shorter - Live Stats
RV North Alabama vs #23 Saint Leo - Live Stats
#23 Saint Leo vs RV Ala.-Huntsville - Live Stats

 
NFCA Preseason Poll …
Saint Leo was the lone Sunshine State Conference team ranked in the NFCA preseason poll where the Lions were ranked 23rd, falling just one spot from the final 2017 rankings.
 
Joining the Lions at the GCI out of the preseason poll are West Florida (No. 3), North Georgia (No. 7), Lee (No. 11), and Lenoir-Rhyne (No. 25). North Alabama and Alabama-Huntsville received votes in the preseason poll. 
 
2018 Roster …
Saint Leo returns 11 players to the roster including the 2017 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year, Kacie Kelly, an NFCA and D2CCA Second Base All-American.
 
Along with Kelly, the Lions return All-SSC pitcher, Alison Mitts to the circle while Samantha Tyler returns for her senior season. Sara Neuman will be in the mix for the Lions in the circle where the Green and Gold added junior transfer Auria Mounts to the pitching rotation.
 
For field players, the Lions return seniors Sommer Pollard, Brittany Creamer and Bailey McKenna, as juniors Ciara McCoy and Alyssa Wash return to the field for their third season of action. Sarah Pauscher and Amanda James return for their second season of work under the direction of fourth year head coach, Erin Kinberger.
 
New Faces …
Saint Leo added five transfers and four freshmen to the roster. Auria Mounts will join the pitching rotation as a junior transfer from Indian River State. Mounts will be joined by Ashley Morris (Chipola College), Bailey Burk (Gulf Coast State College), Bethany Kursch (Jacksonville) and Shyanne DuBois (Indian Hills Community College) as the five transfer players for the Green and Gold.
 
The Lions added four true freshman to the lineup with outfielder Brigette Soza, and three utility players, Deanna Falciglia, Alexis Miniet, and Maddy Lynn.
 
Sunshine State Conference …
Saint Leo was tabbed to win its third straight SSC title by unanimous decision in the SSC Coaches Poll. The Lions received 100 total votes with 10 of the 11 first place votes. Tampa was slated second with 84 votes while Palm Beach Atlantic, third in the poll, received the final first place vote.

The Lions open play at University Softball Stadium on Feb. 9-10 when the Green and Gold host Young Harris for a three-game non-conference series. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. on Feb. 9 between the Lions and Mountain Lions where Saturday's first pitch is slated for 1 p.m. 
 
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.