DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It took 12 innings Friday night to decide the winner in the opening game of the final Sunshine State Conference series of the season for the Saint Leo baseball team and Embry-Riddle. A double by junior Amir Wright followed by a game-winning RBI single from senior Jared Morello proved to be the difference as the Lions squashed the hopes for an out-right SSC Regular Season Championship for the Eagles.
 
The victory evened out the Lions record at 24-24 on the season while their SSC record improved to 13-15. The Eagles fell to 28-19 overall and 17-11 in league play.
 
Saint Leo led 7-5 with three innings left in the game Friday night but a late rally including a game-tying solo home run by the Eagles in the eighth forced extra innings. The Lions escaped several jams until the offense came through in the 12^th with a pair of doubles and a single which led to two runs. Wright hit the first double followed by an RBI single from Morello. Senior Peyton Isaacson then followed with a RBI double of his own to give the Lions a two-run cushion.
 
Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Peel pitched the final 2.0 innings to take home his fourth victory of the season. He struck out five and walked one while allowing a pair of hits. The Lions pitching staff tallied 22 strikeouts in the game led by freshman Ruddy Gomez who fanned six Eagles over 3.1 innings pitched.
 
Morello and senior Aaron Portee led the Lions with three hits each. Morello was 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI, three runs scored, a double and a stolen base. Portee was 3-for-5 with a double. Wright and Isaacson each finished with two hits as Wright went 2-for-5 and Isaacson was 2-for-6. Wright had a walk, a run scored and a pair of doubles while Isaacson had a double, an RBI and a run scored.
 
Junior Jacob Reimold led the Lions with three RBI which all came on one big swing of the bat as he went deep for the 10^th time this season in the sixth inning to give the Lions a 7-5 lead. Senior Brett Coffel also picked up a home run as he knocked his ninth dinger down the left field line in the fourth.  
 
The Lions and Eagles will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.    
 
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.