GULF SHORES, Fla. – No. 5 Saint Leo softball opened up the 2019 season against No. 11 Alabama-Huntsville and West Florida where the Lions took down the Chargers 13-5 to open the day, before falling 9-2 to the Argonauts at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex.
 
Saint Leo (1-1) as a team hit .371 with 23 hits in 62 at-bats led by Kayleice Hooks, going 4-for-7 for a .571 average. Three Lions hit homeruns on the day with Hooks hitting two, one in each game, where the freshman was joined by fellow freshman Kendyl Crean and sophomore Deanna Falciglia. All three notched their first homerun of the Green and Gold careers in the first game of the year. 
 
Sarah Pauscher hit the lone triple on the day against Alabama-Huntsville where Kacie Kelly and Bailey Burk each notched a double on the day. Ashley Morris led the team in scoring with three runs scored ahead of Hooks, Falciglia, Crean, and Shyanne DuBois with two runs apiece.
 
Rachel Bean led the pitching staff with 5.2 innings of work and a 3.17 ERA with three strikeouts. Auria Mounts, who got the win over the Chargers, pitched 4.1 innings and tallied three strikeouts.
 
Game 1 - #5 Saint Leo 13, #11 Ala.-Huntsville 5
Saint Leo jumped all over Alabama-Huntsville (0-1) early for a quick win on the year 13-5 to open up the year. Kayleice Hooks led the team going 3-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
 
Leading 6-3 in the fourth, Saint Leo freshman Kendyl Crean opened the game with a solo homerun to straight away center to make it 8-3. Hooks came up to the plate in the sixth inning and opened the scoring with a two-run jack to right center to make it 10-3 Saint Leo. Moments after Bailey Burk legged out a double to left field, Deanna Falciglia crushed the ball to center for a two-run homerun. Morris would cap off the scoring for the Lions as DuBois singled to left field.
 
Rachel Bean would seal the deal for the Lions and close the door on the Chargers after Auria Mounts' 4.1 innings. With two outs and a runner on second, Bean allowed a single to left field where DuBois grabbed the ball and slung it to Falciglia at home. Despite getting run over, and standing her ground with ball in hand, Falciglia recorded the final out as the Lions won 13-5.
 
Game 2 – West Florida 9, #5 Saint Leo 2
The Argonauts (1-0) started off their season with a 9-2 win over the Lions. In their first game, West Florida would score three runs in the second inning before adding on to that in the fourth inning, holding a 7-0 lead before the Lions could get a run on the board.
 
Kendyl Crean would single to left field, driving in Ashley Morris to cut the lead to 7-1. After two more UWF runs in the fifth and sixth, Saint Leo was down to three outs trailing 9-1 before a mercy rule.
 
Backs against the wall, the Lions would come alive and get another run across off the bat of Kayleice Hooks to right center to cut it to 9-2.
 
Saint Leo would get a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't capitalize to score another run.
 
Up Next
No. 5 Saint Leo will take on Lee and West Georgia for its next two games of the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Lions will take on the Flames at 5:30 pm and the Wolves at 8 pm
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo softball team be sure to 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.