Live Coverage |

SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 25 Saint Leo softball looks to advance to its fifth straight NCAA appearance as the Green and Gold open the 2020 season at the Gulf Shores Invitational Jan. 31- Feb. 2.
 
Quote from Coach Kinberger
"This group of women has been truly enjoyable to work with. You will hear them communicate, see their passion and effort, and conquer adversity together. Their chemistry is undeniable."
 
2020 Opening Weekend
In the six-game weekend, the Lions' meeting with No. 4 West Florida highlights the trip to Gulf Shores, Ala. which takes place Sunday morning at 10 a.m. (ET).
 
Saint Leo opens the year on Friday at 11 a.m. (ET) against Lee in the third meeting between the two programs. The Lions hold a 2-0 advantage winning last year 13-1 in six innings at the Gulf Shores Invitational and took the first meeting 14-0 in 2014.
 
Following the matchup with the Flames, Saint Leo will take on Lubbock Christian at 1:30 p.m. (ET) in the first meeting between the two universities.
 
Play will continue Saturday as the Green and Gold will open up with Mississippi College at 10 a.m. (ET) looking to break the series tie, which currently stands at 1-1 splitting in 2019. After the matchup with the Choctaws, The Lions will take on Spring Hill College at 12:30 p.m. to wrap up competition Saturday.
 
To close out play at the Gulf Shores Invitational, all eyes will be on the field when the Lions take on the Argonauts of the University of West Florida as it's a top-25 showdown at 10 a.m. (ET) before the Green and Gold will close out its trip to the north at 12:30 p.m. with a matchup against Miles.
 
2020 Roster
Behind the returning coaching staff of head coach Erin Kinberger, and assistants Brittany Johnson, Francias Olexa, and Pat Affrunti, the Lions returned 17 players to a 2020 roster of 23, including senior standout Kacie Kelly. Kelly continues to lead the charge for the Green and Gold and looks to her senior campaign after leading the Lions in batting average in 2019 at .377. The middle infielder led the team in hits (57) and runs scored (39) and was second on the team in doubles (10).
 
Behind Kelly, Saint Leo returns the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh, top offensive players in Sarah Pauscher, Kendal Crean, Kayleice Hooks, and Deanna Falciglia. Pauscher led the team in triples a season ago with five and was second in home runs with four behind Crean's team-leading seven dingers.
 
Saint Leo lost just one pitcher off the staff of four a year ago and return ERA leader Sara Neuman (1.45). Joining Neuman in the circle this season are returners Sadi Avants and Rachel Bean while adding freshman Kayla Betts (Leesburg, Fla.) and junior transfer from North Idaho College, Madi Mott (Gladstone, Ore.).
 
New to the team this season along the side of Betts and Mott, the Lions added two other junior transfers from Butler Community College in Megan Gutierrez (Wichita, Kan.) and Makensey Pankers (Omaha, Neb.), as well as freshman Taylor McCray (Hurricane, W. Va.) and Grace Sobieski (Saint Charles, Ill.).
 
NFCA Preseason Rankings
The Lions entered the season ranked for the ### time in the past 10 years while the Green and Gold will meet three preseason ranked opponents in No. 4 West Florida, Feb. 2 and Feb. 8, No. 9 Florida Tech, March 13-14, and No. 18 the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Feb. 9.
 
The Lions were one of two Sunshine State Conference schools ranked in the preseason poll, behind the Panthers, and are one of two teams that finished 2019 not ranked joined by Valdosta State (24). The 2019 NCAA DII National Champion, Augustana (SD) enters the year as preseason number one.
 
 
SSC Coaches' Preseason Poll
In the SSC Coaches Preseason Poll, the 11 head coaches picked Rollins to win the regular-season title, the first since 2014. Florida Tech, the 2019 champion, was picked to finish second ahead of Saint Leo and Tampa (t-3) , Embry-Riddle (5), Nova Southeastern (6), Palm Beach Atlantic (7), Florida Southern (8), Eckerd (9), Lynn (10), and Barry (11).
 
Three regional teams (Florida Tech, Saint Leo, Tampa) from a year ago are in the top-four of the preseason poll. The Panthers look to repeat as SSC champions with the Lions are looking to pick up title number three in a five-year span while the Spartans aim to win their first title since 2015.
 
For more information on the Saint Leo softball program, 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.