SAINT LEO, Fla. – On a rare mid-week Sunshine State Conference game, Saint Leo softball took game one of the SSC series 6-1 over the visiting Florida Southern Moccasins at University Softball Stadium.
 
The Lions improved to 26-10 on the year and 10-9 in the SSC where the Mocs dropped to 22-11, 9-10 SSC.
 
Alison Mitts picked up her ninth win of the season after tossing the seven inning complete game, where she allowed six hits, just one unearned run and tallied four strikeouts.
 
Ashley Morris led the way going 3-for-4 from the two-hole where Brittany Creamer and Sommer Pollard both went 2-for-3 from the no. 8 and 9-hole respectively. Kacie Kelly, Sarah Pauscher and Bethany Kursch each notched a hit on the night where Kursch hit the lone long ball, a three-run homer in the third.
 
Saint Leo used a four run third to propel themselves ahead of Florida Southern as Kacie Kelly scored first off a Sarah Pauscher single through the right side. Kursch then stepped to the plate and drove one to deep right center field, scoring Pausher and Morris in the mix.
 
Florida Southern would push one across in the top of the fourth before the Lions answered with one in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Amanda James stepped in and wore a pitch inside for a hit-by-pitch to walk in a run; Saint Leo 5-1.
 
The Lions would tack on one more in the bottom of the sixth as Morris singled up the middle scoring Brigette Soza from second.
 
Mitts would come out in the top of the seventh and close the door with a 1-2-3 inning. Mitts retired the side with a strikeout, pop up and a fly out.
 
Saint Leo and Florida Southern return to the diamond at 5 p.m. on March 29 for a doubleheader at University Softball Stadium.
 
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.