SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team welcomed 38
th-ranked Quincy into Thomas B. Southard Stadium Friday night for a twinbill home opener. The Hawks took the opening game 5-4 before an offensive explosion combined with a strong performance on the mound turned into a 12-1 seven-inning victory for the Lions over the nationally-ranked program.
Â
Sophomore
Ruddy Gomez took the mound in game two for the Lions and pitched a strong 7.0 innings. Gomez sat down nine Hawks by strikeout while scattering five hits and allowing one unearned run. He allowed just three free passes.
Â
Gomez handled the strong pitching performance while senior
Jake Vander Wal and junior
Sam Crail provided the offensive explosion. Vander Wal did his damage in the fourth as he laced a three-run home run deep over the centerfield fence to push the Lions ahead 7-1. The very next inning Crail sent a moon shot down the right field line that accounted for his first grand slam in a Green & Gold uniform and his third home run of his young Saint Leo career. Vander Wal returned to the plate in the sixth and repeated his performance with a long ball over the right field fence for the Lions final tally of the game.
Â
With the split the Lions move to 1-6 on the year while the Hawks of Quincy moved to 1-1.
Â
Senior
Amir Wright led the Lion effort in the opening game as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a triple. Vander Wal added a 2-for-4 performance with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Senior
Brett Esau led the team with a pair of RBI on a 1-for-4 performance with a double.
Â
Junior
McCabe Sargent suffered the loss on the mound for the Lions, his first setback of the season. He went 3.2 innings with four strikeouts, four walks, four hits allowed and four runs allowed. Senior
Joey Antonopoulos pitched the final 5.1 innings with five strikeouts, three walks, four hits allowed and one solo run allowed. Â
Â
The Lions close out their three-game set with Quincy Saturday at 1 p.m. Â
Â
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.
Â