WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – No. 5 Saint Leo softball split Saturday's doubleheader with No. 18 Palm Beach Atlantic but won the Sunshine State Conference series 2-1.
 
Saint Leo won the first game of the series Friday night 6-3 before opening Saturday with a 5-1 decision. The Sailfish rebounded and took the series finale 2-0 at Simpson Field.

On the day, Kacie Kelly led the team going 4-for-7 with two runs scored and a triple to her credit. Kendyl Crean and Ashley Morris finished Saturday's doubleheader with two hits apiece where Sarah Pauscher, Emily Pilon and Alexis Miniet all recorded one. 

All four pitchers saw action Saturday where Sadi Avants, who tossed 4.2 innings, led with five strikeouts. Avants, Rachel Bean and Sara Neuman finished with a 0.00 ERA as Auria Mounts owned a 1.75 ERA in 4.0 innings of work. 
 
Records
#5 Saint Leo – 7-7, 2-1 SSC
#18 Palm Beach Atlantic – 5-6, 1-2 SSC
 
Game 1 - #5 Saint Leo 5, #18 Palm Beach Atlantic 1
The Sailfish scored first in the bottom of the second on an error before the Lions evened things at 1-1 with a run in the third. After a scoreless fourth, Saint Leo added four runs in the fifth inning to take a commanding 5-1 lead through five. Sadi Avants came in for relief over the final 3.2 innings to team up with Rachel Bean to hold the Sailfish scoreless over the final five innings.
 
Kacie Kelly, Ashley Morris, Sarah Pauscher and Alexis Miniet were credited with a hit as Shyanne DuBois, Kendyl Crean and Pauscher scored three of the Lions' five runs leaving the final two to Kelly.
 
Bean got the nod for the start and went 3.1 innings receiving the no decision, allowing one unearned run before turning things over to Avants who went 3.2 innings with three hits, no runs and four strikeouts.
 
Game 2 - #18 Palm Beach Atlantic 2, #5 Saint Leo 0
Both teams played four scoreless frames before PBA scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and added on with one in the sixth. Saint Leo left seven base runners on the bags but couldn't get one across the plate.
 
Kacie Kelly led the team with a 3-for-4 performance from the plate where Kendyl Crean went 2-for-3. Ashley Morris and Emily Pilon recorded the other two Green and Gold hits.
 
Auria Mounts got the start and went 4.0 innings allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout before Sara Neuman tossed one inning allowing one run on two hits. Rachel Bean came in and walked her one batter before Sadi Avants came in for the final one inning of work recording one strikeout and holding the Sailfish to no runs and no hits.   
 
Up Next
No. 5 Saint Leo will host Rollins for their home opener on Feb. 22-23 at University Softball Stadium. First pitch Friday night is set for 7 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.