TAMPA, Fla. – No. 19 Saint Leo softball split its final road series doubleheader at Tampa after falling in game one Saturday 1-0 and taking game two 2-0. The Lions dropped the final SSC road series 1-2 but managed to salvage the series finale.
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Saint Leo (32-12, 16-11 SSC) used three pitchers Saturday where
Sara Neuman got the start and win in game two where
Auria Mounts got the start in game one.
Alison Mitts came in for relief and took the loss after going 3.2 innings in game one. Mounts tossed 3.0 innings to start game one.
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Neuman led the Lions staff with strikeouts with five in her seven inning complete game shutout.
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From the plate,
Brittany Creamer led the pack with a .500 batting average going 3-for-6.
Kacie Kelly and
Sarah Pauscher drove in the lone two runs on the day where
Ashley Morris and
Bailey Burk scored the runs.
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Game One – Tampa 1, #19 Saint Leo 0
Both the Spartans and Lions played six scoreless innings before a final run in the bottom of the seventh allowed Tampa to walk off for the win. A single to the pitcher allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
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The Lions recorded six hits where the Green and Gold left five runners on base. Tampa was held to five hits and stranded five runners as well.
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Game Two - #19 Saint Leo 2, Tampa 0
After three scoreless innings, Saint Leo got on the board for the first time on the weekend in the fourth inning before scoring another run in the fifth inning.
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Sarah Pauscher singled to right center to score
Ashley Morris to put the Lions ahead 1-0.
Kacie Kelly laid down a bunt single to score
Bailey Burk, pushing the Green and Gold lead to 2-0.
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Sara Neuman challenged Makaleigh Dooley on the mound where Neuman held the Spartans scoreless for the full seven innings. She allowed just three hits in the 27 batters faced.
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Up Next …
Saint Leo returns to the diamond on April 26 at home as the Green and Gold look to close out the regular season with an SSC home series against top-10-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic. The Lions and Sailfish will play a single game on Thursday before a doubleheader Friday, April 27 at 11am and 1pm.
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