MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Playing in its first Sunshine State Conference road series of the year, the Saint Leo baseball team fell to Barry 11-6 Friday night. The Buccaneers used two big innings to overcome a five-run Saint Leo lead.
 
The loss drops the Lions record to 9-6 on the year and 2-2 in SSC action. The Buccaneers improved to 9-3 overall and 5-2 in league action.
 
The Lions took an early 6-1 lead after three innings but that advantage quickly evaporated as the Bucs scored six runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth to open up an 11-6 lead which held for the final four innings.
 
Senior Jared Morello opened up the scoring as he hit an RBI triple to right field which drove home junior Amir Wright who had led off the game with a single up the middle. Wright would go on to have a 4-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI. A walk and a run scored. Senior Brett Coffel drove home Morello with an RBI groundout just one batter later to give the Lions a quick 2-0 lead.
 
The Buccaneers tallied one run in the bottom of the first but the Lions quickly matched that score in the second as Wright picked up his second hit of the day while driving in junior Jacob Reimold who had reached on an error to open the inning,
 
After a scoreless second by Barry the Lions tacked on three more runs in the third. Senior Peyton Isaacson started things off with a solo shot to right centerfield, his fifth home run of the year. Then three batters later, redshirt freshman Logan Flood hit a two-run home run to left field. It marked his second home run of the season.
 
The Buccaneers had just three extra base hits in the game, all three being doubles. Barry used timely hitting and productive outs to score six runs in the fourth and then tacked on four more in the fifth.
 
The Lions starting pitcher Joey Antonopoulos went 3.2 innings with four strikeouts and two walks allowed. The junior allowed seven hits and six runs to cross the plate. Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Peel took over on the mound and suffered the loss after going 1.0 inning with a walk and four runs surrendered. Sophomore McCabe Sargent pitched the final 3.1 innings and struck out eight while walking just two. He gave up three hits and allowed one run to cross the plate.
 
The Lions and Buccaneers will conclude their three-game series tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. start doubleheader.
 
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.