TAMPA, Fla. – For the second-straight day the Saint Leo baseball team saw a late rally turn into a loss as the Barton Bulldogs scored five unanswered runs over the final three innings to escape with a 7-6 victory Saturday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. The Lions tallied four extra base hits in the loss including a pair of home runs.
 
Senior Jacob Reimold was the lone Lion with multiple hits as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Senior transfer Jake Vander Wal and junior transfer Sam Crail each led the team with a pair of RBI. Vander Wal was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run while Crail was 1-for-3 with a two-run home run as well. It marked the second-straight game with a home run for Crail. The only other RBI came off the bat of senior Amir Wright who was 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a double.
 
The Lions led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh Saturday before the Bulldogs scored one in the seventh and three in the eighth to tie the game. The Bulldogs would break through for the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out RBI single through the left side which ended the contest. The Bulldogs had 17 runners left on base including two or more in every inning leading up to the seventh. They did not leave any in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth.
 
Sophomore Ruddy Gomez picked up the start for the Lions and he went 4.0 innings while pitching out of several jams. He finished with six strikeouts, five walks, three hits given up and two runs allowed. Freshmen Andy Booth and Yazael Nunez saw their first action on the mound for the Lions. Another first timer on the mound was sophomore transfer Jestin Jones who suffered the loss pitching the final 1.1 innings. Jones walked two and gave up two hits over the final inning and a third.
 
Jared Davis earned the win for the Bulldogs going the final 3.1 innings while holding the Lions to two hits and two runs scored. Three Bulldogs finished with three hits each to lead Barton's offensive effort.
 
The Lions will return to action tomorrow at noon as they face #5 Catawba at Steinbrenner Field.
 
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