COLUMBUS, Ga. – The 23
rd-ranked Saint Leo baseball team traveled to No. 3 Columbus State Saturday for a doubleheader against the Cougars. The Lions looked to be in control in game one leading 9-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh but a nine-run inning by the Cougars put Columbus back into the contest. Columbus State went on to win the game in the 10
th inning 11-10 before taking a seven-inning game two, 7-4.
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The Lions posted six home runs over the two games and turned six double plays but it was not enough to stop the Cougars.
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Senior
Brett Coffel and junior
Amir Wright led the offensive effort in game two. Both went 3-for-6 at the plate. Coffel scored two runs, had a double and drove in a run while Wright went deep twice, matching his home run total from last season, scored two and posted two RBI. Redshirt sophomore
Danny Torres went deep as well while driving in three runs and walking three times.
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On the mound, junior
Joey Antonopoulos took the start and went 6.0 innings with five strikeouts, a walk and three runs given up. Five other pitchers combined for the final four innings with sophomore
McCabe Sargent suffering the loss.
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In game two it was redshirt senior
Derek Gibree and freshman
Mike Wyman picking up multiple hits. Gibree went 2-for-3 at the plate while Wyman was 2-for-4. Senior
Peyton Isaacson, junior
Jacob Reimold and Coffel each hit home runs in the loss with Coffel leading the way with two RBI.
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Redshirt senior
Shane Haight started the game on the mound for the Lions and went 4.1 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. He allowed five runs to cross the plate and took home the loss. Freshman
Brady McGarry pitched the final 1.2 innings with a strikeout and two runs given up.
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The Lions six double plays turned moved their season total to 13 through nine games while they have only hit into three twin killings all season. The Cougars from Columbus State led the NCAA Division II last season with 70 double plays in 63 games, an average of 1.11 per game. The Lions are currently averaging 1.44 double plays per contest. Â Â
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The Lions and Cougars will close out the three game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.
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For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo baseball 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.
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