WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – No. 5 Saint Leo softball traveled to Simpson Field and took down No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic 6-3 in the Sunshine State Conference opener. Auria Mounts was on the hook for the win as Sara Neuman earned the save facing just one batter in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Records
#5 Saint Leo – 6-6, 1-0 SSC
#18 Palm Beach Atlantic – 4-5, 0-1 SSC
 
Pitcher
W Auria Mounts – 4-3
L Abbey Busby – 3-4
 
Kacie Kelly led the pack from the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs scored as Ashley Morris and Sarah Pauscher went 2-for-4. Morris, Shyanne DuBois and Kendyl Crean all scored a run for the Lions where Pauscher paced the team with three RBI. Crean was credited with one RBI on the night.
 
Mounts (4-3) got the nod for the Lions and tossed 4.1 innings of work allowing one unearned run on three hits while Sadie Avants went 1.2 innings with one hit. Rachel Bean pitched 0.2 innings allowing two runs on one hit before Sara Neuman came in to close out the game, facing one batter and getting a ground out to third.
 
Saint Leo scored two runs in the first, one in the third and three in the seventh while the Sailfish scored one in the second and two in the seventh.
 
Kacie Kelly got things started off quick, after a leadoff double, crossing the plate on an errory by the Sailfish's third baseman. Kendyl Crean would step to the plate and add to the Green and Gold lead with a groundout to short, allowing Shyanne DuBois to cross for the second run.
 
Sarah Pauscher's single to center field would plate Kelly from third after a leadoff single to start the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh, Pauscher would triple to right center scoring Ashley Morris and Crean for a 6-1 lead.
 
Up Next
No. 5 Saint Leo and No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic will be back in action Saturday at 1 pm for a doubleheader at Simpson Field in West Palm Beach.
 
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.