FLORENCE, Ala. – For the first time in program history, Saint Leo softball advances to the South Super Regional after going 3-0 at the South 2 Regional. The No. 25 Lions defeated No. 4 North Alabama Saturday 2-1 to cap off a stellar performance at the UNA Softball Complex.
 
Saint Leo (35-15) moves on to the super regionals after a 3-0 weekend at North Alabama. The Lions opened up play against No. 22 Embry-Riddle, the sixth seed, with a 3-0 win before defeating North Alabama 2-1 Friday. Saint Leo closed out play with a 2-1 win Saturday over the Lions of North Alabama.
 
North Alabama battled back to face the Green and Gold in the South 2 Region Championship with a win Friday night over West Florida. With the win, Saint Leo improves to 12-5 against the UNA Lions and 3-0 this season. The Lions will host the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
 
Auria Mounts got the nod for start before head coach Erin Kinberger used all three available pitchers to get the win. Alison Mitts followed Mounts before Sara Neuman picked up her second straight save of the year. Mounts went 3.0 innings with two hits and one run scored where Mitts went 2.1 with just three hits, earning her 13th win of the year. Neuman came in for the final 1.2 innings allowing just one hit, where she got the Green and Gold out of a jam in the sixth.
 
Ashley Morris, Sarah Pauscher and Bailey McKenna all recorded one hit on the day where Kacie Kelly and McKenna tallied one run scored. Brittany Creamer and Pauscher were credited with one RBI on the day.
 
All three runs were scored in the first three innings where the Lions jumped on the hosting Lions with a run in the first and second before North Alabama scored one in the third.
 
With the bases loaded, Sarah Pauscher reached on a fielder's choice allowing everyone to advance including Kacie Kelly to come in and score the first run of the game.
In the second inning, Bailey McKenna started things off with a double before advancing on a wild pitch. Brittany Creamer reached on a fielding error as McKenna crossed the plate for the second run.
 
North Alabama cut the deficit to one after a single to left field drove in the lone run. Neither team would add to its run count as the pitching staffs held each other in check. Senior catcher Sommer Pollard saved the Lions with three big snags from behind the plate. Pollard caught the entire game, but jumped out of her stance on several balls to holds runners at first and second with one out in the sixth rather than letting them get over her head. Sara Neuman shut the door with three groundouts in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Up Next …
Saint Leo will host Alabama-Huntsville on May 17-18 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.