SAINT LEO, Fla. – In a scoreless game, with two on and one out, Bethany Kursch stepped up in a big situation for the Lions where she lined out to left field scoring Ashley Morris from third as No. 10 Saint Leo walked off over Florida Tech 1-0 in a Sunshine State Conference matchup.
 
Alison Mitts pitched the complete game shutout allowing just three hits while recording a career-high nine strikeouts against the 26 batters faced. Mitts worked out of a jam in the sixth inning where the Panthers had a runner at third but Mitts got the final two outs with a strikeout and ground out.
 
Saint Leo improves to 10-3 on the year and 2-2 in Sunshine State Conference play where Florida Tech falls to 7-7 and 0-1 SSC. Ashley Morris and Sarah Pauscher led the Lions on the night, going 2-for-3 from the plate where Shyanne DuBois, Maddy Lynn and Brittany Creamer each recorded one hit.
 
Kursch was the hero in the bottom of the seventh with the line out to left field, picking up the lone RBI on the night while Morris was the lone run. With one out, Morris singled to right field but advanced to third on a fielding error by the right fielder which eventually setup the winning run.
 
Makayla Palmer led Florida Tech at the plate where she went 2-for-3, with Xiarysse Emerenciana notching the only other hit.  Melanie Murphy pitched the complete game allowing seven hits and one unearned run.
 
Saint Leo and Florida Tech return to the diamond Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. for a scheduled 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.