GULF SHORES, Ala. – Trailing 2-0 after 6.2 innings, No. 25 Saint Leo softball rallied to top Mississippi College 3-2 in eight innings to open the season. The Lions closed the opening day of 2020 with a 10-2 decision in six innings against Spring Hill at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
 
Alexis Miniet paced the Green and Gold on the day with a 4-for-6 day at the plate with one run scored, one double, and one triple while adding four RBI. Taylor McCray made her debut and turned in a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate. Maddy Lynn and Kacie Kelly each scored two runs on the day while they notched three and four runs, respectively.
 
Madi Mott dominated in her debut in the circle getting the nod in the circle going the distance, 8.0 innings, earning her first win with 13 strikeouts. Kayla Betts came in relief in game two and picked up the win with 3.2 innings of with eight strikeouts while Rachel Bean started game two and tallied two strikeouts in her 2.1 innings of work.
 
Results:
8 Innings: #25 Saint Leo 3, Mississippi College 2
6 innings: #25 Saint Leo 10, Spring Hill 2
 
In the comeback win over Mississippi College, the Choctaws scored two runs in the third before the Green and Gold rallied in the bottom of the seventh to tie it 2-2. Lynn opened up the bottom of the seventh with a single before coming around to score on a Miniet triple. Saint Leo would tie the game after Sadi Avants singled through the left side, scoring MIniet from third.
 
In the eighth inning, with the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Mississippi College would move the runner to third on a bunt single, but Madi Mott closed the door with two strikeouts and a flyout. The Lions would use a single from Amanda James to score Mott from third, who moved over after a wild pitch, ending the game.
 
Saint Leo rolled right into the next game scoring seven runs in the first inning against Spring Hill. The Badgers would answer with one run in the first and one in the third but the Green and Gold tacked on two in the fourth and the winning run in the top of the sixth off Miniet's double to left center scoring James. Betts used two ground outs and a strikeout to end the game.
 
Up Next
No. 25 Saint Leo will face No. 4 West Florida (9 a.m. CT / 10 a.m. ET) and Miles College (11:30 a.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. ET) to close out the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
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.