SALEM, Va. – Saint Leo softball came out firing in the early morning game against North Georgia at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex where the Lions knocked off the top-seeded Nighthawks 3-2 to advance in the 2018 NCAA Division II Softball Championships.
 
The Lions (39-17) who have typically had a big fifth inning at the World Series had an early start, throwing up a three-spot in the fourth inning after three scoreless frames. Saint Leo held a 3-0 lead all the way to the seventh inning before the Nighthawks could plate two runs, making it a 3-2 finale.
 
The Saint Leo pitching trio of Auria Mounts, Alison Mitts and Sara Neuman all made an appearance in the game where Mounts and Mitts teamed up for five innings of no-hit softball before the Nighthawks picked up their first hit in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mounts got the start and the win moving to 17-9 on the year after going 5.2 innings allowing two hits and no runs with two strikeouts.
 
Mitts tossed one inning of work with one strikeout where Neuman went 0.1 with two runs on two walks.
 
Of the nine Saint Leo hits, Kacie Kelly, Sarah Pauscher and Brittany Creamer all picked up two hits, leaving Ashley Morris, Shyanne DuBois and Sommer Pollard with one.
 
Morris, DuBois and Brigette Soza all scored one run in the contest. Pauscher led the RBI race with two on the day.
 
In the top of the fourth, Shyanne DuBois stepped into the box with two on no outs before laying down a sacrifice bunt where the speedy outfielder reached on a throwing error. Kacie Kelly, who reached on a single to center field, raced home from second giving the Lions the first run of the day while Ashley Morris, who laid down a bunt single, moved from first to third.
 
With two out and runners on second and third, Sarah Pauscher dug into the box as a pinch hitter looking to add more runs. Pauscher took the ball to left field allowing DuBois and Soza to come in to run the score to 3-0 Saint Leo. The Lions would strand a runner but hold a 3-0 lead.
 
Saint Leo would strand three more runners on base before heading to the bottom of the seventh. The Nighthawks would push two across in the bottom of the seventh before Auria Mounts, who started the game and came in to finish it, got the final out to fly to left field where Shyanne DuBois squeezed the mitt for the last out.
 
Up Next …
Saint Leo advanced to take on Southern Indiana where the Lions and Screaming Eagles got to the top of the sixth with the Lions leading 4-2 before rain moved in and halted play for the day. Saint Leo and Southern Indiana will resume play in the top of the sixth with no outs, Lions batting at 8:30am Sunday morning. The Lions scored four runs in the top of the first to take an early 4-0 lead before giving up one run in the first and fourth inning. (Box Score)
 
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.