FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After projected rain in the area shifted the doubleheader to Saturday night, Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern played to a twinbill split as the Green and Gold took game one 7-4 while the Sharks claimed the second game 2-0. The Sunshine State Conference series was originally slated one game Saturday and two Sunday, but weather shifted to two Saturday and the series finale at 11 a.m. Sunday morning.
Records
Saint Leo – 19-12, 8-6 SSC
Nova Southeastern - 19-12, 8-3 SSC
Shyanne DuBois paced the Lions with a .600 average, .600 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage after going 3-for-5 with two runs scored one walk and one hit-by-pitch in the two games.
Sarah Pauscher joined DuBois in the three hit club going 3-for-7 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Amanda James,
Alyssa Wash and
Ashley Morris were the other three credited with a hit on the day.
Auria Mounts,
Sadi Avants and
Rachel Bean made appearances in the circle for the Green and Gold where Mounts earned the win in game one after four innings of work moving to 10-6 while Avants picked up the save with three innings of work. Bean tossed the complete game in the nightcap suffering the loss moving to 3-4 on the season.
Game 1 – Saint Leo 7, Nova Southeastern 2
The Lions left one runner on in the top of the first threatening early but it was the Sharks who would score first in the bottom half on two hits.
Saint Leo answered with two runs in the third for a 2-1 lead heading to the fourth.
Sarah Pauscher would add to the Lions' lead with a solo homerun to straight away center field before NSU got one run back in the bottom, cutting the deficit to 4-2. A three run sixth allowed the Lions to take a 6-1 lead as Pauscher, DuBois and James all came in to score a run in the inning.
The Lions added one more in the top of the seventh on a single to the pitcher allowing DuBois to come across for the seventh run. The Sharks scored two runs in the bottom half of the seventh but Avants got the final out with a strikeout swinging.
Game 2 – Nova Southeastern 2, Saint Leo 0
Both teams would leave five runners on base in the second game of the night, but a rainy game caused for errors as the Sharks committed three to the Lions' two.
Neither team could get anything across the plate before Nova Southeastern plated one in the third inning. Saint Leo threatened in the top of the sixth stranding two runners on but couldn't get around third safely as the inning ended with a play at the plate on a fielding error by the third baseman.
Kacie Kelly was standing on second when the ball was misplayed by third, getting the signal to round for home almost worked but the Sharks throw to the plate was in time as Kelly tried to slide around the tag, keeping it a 1-0 game.
The Sharks would come up and plate one more in the bottom half to make it 2-0.
Amanda James hit a one-out base knock to left center to give the Lions hope but a fielder's choice, and a groundout held the Lions scoreless for the second game.
Up Next
Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern will return to action Sunday, March 17 at 11 a.m. for the third and final game of the SSC series.
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.
