SAINT LEO, Fla. – With a doubleheader sweep Saturday of Barry, Saint Leo softball secured its fifth-straight 30-win season. After helping the Lions to a 5-0 game one win, junior
Kacie Kelly went 2-for-3 in which her two hits made her reach the milestone of 200 career hits. The Lions capped off the series with a 10-2 win in six innings.
With a record of 30-14 thus far in 2019, head coach
Erin Kinberger has guided her Green and Gold teams to 30-plus wins in each of her five seasons at the helm of her alma mater. The 30 wins this year mark the 19th time in program history the Green and Gold have notched 30 wins in a season as coach Kinberger has now been a part of 10 of the program's 19 30-win seasons, either as player (2004-07), graduate assistant (2008) or as head coach (2015-present).
Kacie Kelly stands at 201 career hits after going 1-for-1 in game two Saturday afternoon after stringing together seasons of 80-69-52 hits respectively and counting in her third year on the field.
Records
Saint Leo - 30-14, 19-8 SSC
Barry - 13-34, 6-18 SSC
Kacie Kelly paced the Green and Gold on the day going 3-for-4 from the plate with five runs scored and one RBI.
Sarah Pauscher and
Bailey Burk both hit .500 on the day as Pauscher turned in a 3-for-6 performance with three runs scored and two RBI including two triples and one double on the afternoon.
Shyanne DuBois joined Burk, Pauscher and Kelly in two or more hits while
Grace Spitulski,
Ashley Morris,
Kendyl Crean, and
Emily Pilon all notched a hit on the day. Behind Kelly's five runs scored and Pauscher's three, Burk and Crean each crossed the plate twice while DuBois, Morris, and
Bayley Williams all scored one run.
Three of the Lions' pitchers were used Saturday where Sadie Avants tossed the complete game shutout in game one allowing six hits and no runs while fanning four batters.
Rachel Bean came in for relief work in game two and finished out the game with four innings pitched, one run allowed on two hits while striking out three batters.
Sara Neuman started game two and went 2.0 innings with one run on four hits and two strikeouts.
Game 1 – Saint Leo 5, Barry 0
Saint Leo got on the board in the first when
Kacie Kelly singled and advanced to second on a throwing error. On a delayed steal, Kelly swiped third but came in to score the games first run on a throwing error. After three scoreless frames, the Lions plated four in the fifth to take the 5-0 lead heading to the sixth.
Despite giving up two hits in the bottom of the seventh, Avants worked out of runners on second and third with no outs. After the
Emily Pilon -
Kacie Kelly double play, Avants got the last out on a groundout to
Ashley Morris at third.
Game 2 – Saint Leo 10, Barry 2 (6 inns.)
The Lions' were still in attack mode as they scored three runs to open the series finale on two hits. Barry scored its first run of the series in the top of the second before the Lions and Bucs played two complete scoreless frames. The Lions added to their lead with three in the bottom of the fifth on two hits once again. The Bucs followed the three runs with a run of their own in the top of the sixth to make it 6-2.
With one run across in the bottom half already and no outs, back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Green and Gold.
Kendyl Crean would single to left field scoring two to make it 9-2 with no outs.
Alli Jaquith would come in and pinch hit and draw the walk on five pitches to load the bases again.
Deanna Falciglia would come in and follow suit and draw the pinch hit walk to give the Lions a walk-off walk.
Rachel Bean tossed four innings while
Sara Neuman started the game and went 2.0 innings. Bean and Neuman each allowed one run in the game.
Up Next
Following an off week, Saint Leo will return to action on April 25th to host Tampa in the final regular season series of the year.
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.
