SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team scored six unanswered runs Tuesday night to upend the visiting Pride of Purdue University Northwest, 8-6. The game looked to be a slugfest early on but after 14 runs in the first four innings both teams went scoreless over the final five. The Lions sent six pitchers to the mound in a preplanned "staff" day with redshirt sophomore Jeremy Peel earning his second victory of the season.
 
Peel pitched a team-high 3.0 innings and kept the Pride off the scoreboard from the fourth through the sixth innings. He struck out four and walked just one while not allowing a single hit in the contest. Two pitchers later, freshman Brady McGarry came on to close out the game pitching the final 2.1 innings. The rookie earned his first career save while striking out three and walking one.
 
The win improves the Lions record to 14-7 on the year while the Pride fell to 2-6.
 
Three Lions each picked up two hits to lead the squad. Junior Amir Wright went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, a walk and a hit by pitch. Freshman Mike Wyman also went 2-for-3 at the dish with a triple and an RBI. Senior Jared Morello was the final Lion with two base knocks as he went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Three additional Lions earned extra base hits with redshirt sophomore Danny Torres delivering his third home run of the season, senior Aaron Portee posting his first triple of the season and senior Peyton Isaacson securing a double. Isaacson and Portee each added two RBI to their stat line as well.
 
The Lions jumped ahead early as Morello took the first pitch he saw in the game over the right field fence to give Saint Leo a quick 2-0 lead. Purdue Northwest responded with a solo run in the second aided by a Saint Leo error and then exploded for five runs in the third which was only slowed down by an inning-ending fly out, play at the plate double play. Morello made the strike from right field to gun the runner down at the plate.
 
Trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom of the third the Lions took advantage of a PNW error to score three runs in the frame. Coffel reached on an error and was followed by junior Jacob Reimold who walked. Portee then hit a tailing fly ball down the left field line that turned into a two-RBI triple for the senior. Portee was brought home by the next Saint Leo batter, Wyman, who hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
 
After a scoreless fourth by the Pride, Saint Leo tacked on three more runs in the bottom half to take the lead which would hold the rest of the game. Torres led off the inning with a solo shot to right field and then Wright and Morello hit back-to-back singles. With two runners on, Isaacson laced a ball over the left fielder for a two-RBI double, his six two-bagger of the season.
 
The Lions pitching would take things over from there as Peel settled down the Pride's offense. Freshman Dariel Fregio pitched in the seventh inning picking up two strikeouts and walking two while allowing just one hit which set the table for McGarry who closed out the game.  
 
The Lions will now turn their attention to the second-ranked team in the nation, the University of Tampa. The Spartans will come to town Friday night for the start of a crucial three-game series for both teams. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.   
 
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.