SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 18 Saint Leo baseball opened up its Sunshine State Conference home series with Barry with a 9-7 win to move to 11-2 on the year and 4-0 in SSC play.
 
The Lions used two three-run innings to jump on the Buccaneers just under halfway through the game. Barry scored first in the top of the first with single to right field.
 
Saint Leo answered with three runs in the bottom of the second on back-to-back-to-back doubles from Jared Morello, Chase Turner, and Tate Sweatt to make it 2-1 Lions. Sweatt came around to score the third run on a passed ball as Saint Leo took a 3-1 lead to the third.
 
A scoreless third, was followed by three more Green and Gold runs in the fourth inning where Turner got things started with yet another double. Zach Scott would double to score Turner before Sweatt doubled to score Scott. Amir Wright would single to right center to bring in Sweatt for the third and final run of the inning.
 
The Lions tacked on another run in the fifth, 7-1, before Barry scored one in the top of the eighth to make it 7-2. Saint Leo would add to its lead with two in the eighth.
 
Barry would plate five runs in the top of the ninth as the Lions would fend off the Buccaneers for a 9-7 win at home.
 
Jordan Pendleton picked up his second win of the year after going 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts and one run on six hits. Shane Haight came in for one inning of work striking out three batters while allowing one run on two hits.
 
Robbie Cook and Blake Bodin each made an appearance in the ninth inning where Cook gave up four runs on no hits with one walk and three hit-by-pitched. Bodin gave up one hit and one run before Drew Tumbelty came in and earned a save with one hit and one strikeout.
 
The Lions' bottom half of the lineup was on fire for the game where Chase Turner, Zach Scott, Tate Sweatt and Derek Gibree each went 2-for-4. Sweatt led the way in scoring with three runs where Scott and Turner each had two runs scored and Jared Morello and Peyton Isaacson with one.
 
Turner and Sweatt each had two doubles on the night where Wright, Morello, and Scott joined the duo in the double-ball. Isaacson hit the lone home run throughout the game.
 
Saint Leo and Barry return to the diamond for a scheduled SSC doubleheader at 1 p.m. to close out the series.
 
For more information on the Saint Leo baseball 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.