SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 18 Saint Leo baseball used a six-run first to blow things open against its Sunshine State Conference opponent Rollins, Friday night. The Lions defeated the Tars 8-2 to open the SSC series with a 1-0 record and improve their overall season record to 27-8, 10-6 SSC.
 
Jordan Pendleton got the start on the mound for the Lions and moved to 5-1 on the year after tossing 7.0 strong innings allowing just one unearned run on five hits with nine strikeouts.
 
Jake Sims and Blake Bodin came in for relief appearances where Sims went 0.1 innings with one run allowed, three walks and no hits. Bodin controlled his 1.2 innings with just one hit and no runs while tying Sims with one strikeout.
 
From the plate, Lane Stancil and Derek Gibree went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Stancil led the team with two RBI on the night, ahead of Amir Wright, Peyton Isaacson, Chase Turner, Zach Scott, Brett Coffel and Gibree's one RBI.
 
Pendleton got his night started with a 1-2-3 inning in the first before the Lions exploded for six runs in the bottom half. Jared Morello hit a one-out single before back-to-back walks loaded the bases with Peyton Isaacson and Chase Turner. After battling at the plate, Zach Scott drew the walk, which allowed the first run to cross the plate. Brett Coffel followed suit and walked, scoring Isaacson.
 
With the bases still loaded, Lane Stancil singled to right field, driving in Turner and Scott before Gibree singled through the left side on the first pitch he saw of the day, scoring Coffel. After a pitching change, Wright singled home Stancil to make it 6-0 Saint Leo.
 
Rollins finally got to Pendleton in the third inning and scored an unearned run to make it 6-2 before the Green and Gold could put up two more in the bottom of the fourth. Gibree started things off with a leadoff double to left field before the walks started to haunt the Tars again. With the bases loaded, via a walk and a single, Isaacson walked to bring in Gibree. Turner would draw the walk once again to bring in Wright; Saint Leo 8-1.
 
Three scoreless frames for the two teams saw the Lions carry an 8-1 lead into the eighth where Jake Sims came in to pitch. After recording one out and loading the bases, Sims exited the ball game where Blake Bodin came in and got the first out with a pop up to Scott. A wild pitch saw the Tars score just their second run before Bodin worked out of the jam keeping it Saint Leo 8, Rollins 2.
 
Bodin worked a quick ninth allowing just one hit and one runner left on as the Lions went on for the 8-2 victory.
 
Up Next …
Saint Leo and Rollins return to the diamond at 1:30 pm for a doubleheader, which was changed from a single game to avoid inclement weather Sunday. The Lions and Tars will take to the field following a jersey retirement for Saint Leo alum, Fred Cambria '70. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
 
For more on the Saint Leo baseball program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Also, be sure to 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and 'Follow' Saint Leo Athletics on Twitter and Instagram.