SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 25 Saint Leo softball dropped one game of the Saint Leo Tournament but rallied to split the pair of one-run games Sunday at University Softball Stadium. The Green and Gold dropped the first game 3-2 to the University of Virginia's College at Wise and got past Flagler 5-4.

Three players would notch three hits in the game in Kacie Kelly, Bethany Kursch, and Sarah Pauscher. Kelly led the team in runs scored with four while Kursch paced the team with five runs batted in (RBI) with the lone home run on the afternoon. Emily Pilon joined Kursch with a double on the day. 
  
Kayla Betts came on to earn the win in game two where she tossed two innings of work and allowed no hits or runs while picking up three strikeouts. Madi Mott and Sara Neuman each tallied three strikeouts on the day while Rachel Bean fanned two batters in her four innings of work.

Results | Records
Flagler 6, UVa. Wise 1 | FC 8-3, UVa WISE 2-3
UVa. Wise 3, #25 Saint Leo 2 | UVa. WISE 3-3, SLU 9-3
#25 Saint Leo 5, Flagler 4 | SLU 10-3, FC 8-3
 
In the first game between the Cavaliers and Lions, UVa. Wise used a two-run blast in the second inning to take a quick 2-0 lead on the Green and Gold. The Lions would be held off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth when Bethany Kursch stepped in and took the 1-0 pitch to straight away center field for a game-tying two-run homerun, scoring Kacie Kelly. The Cavs would see a single to right center score the go-ahead run before holding the Lions' tying run at third.
 
Saint Leo got all over the Saints in the first inning with two runs as Kursch again helped score runs for the Green and Gold driving a double down the left field line to score Kelly. Sarah Pauscher would score on a heads-up play as Sadi Avants popped up 20-feet from home plate, becoming the second out. With no one covering home, both the catcher and first baseman converged on the ball, Pauscher took off for home after tagging up.
 
In the top of the second inning with the bases loaded for the Saints, a deep fly out to left field saw the inning end with a play at the plate as Maddy Lynn gunned the runner to protect the lead.
 
As the marathon game continued, Flagler hit a three-run bomb to left field to take a 3-2 lead after two and half innings of play. A throwing error in the bottom half tied things back up at 3-3 heading to the fourth.
 
A solo homer in the fourth saw a 4-3 lead for the Saints putting the pressure on the Lions. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Kursch dug in and took the 2-2 pitch straight up the middle of the second base and allowed Kacie Kelly and Rachel Bean to score and take the lead. The Lions couldn't tack on any more runs but Kayla Betts retired the side with a fly out to left field and back-to-back strikeouts to seal the win.

Up Next
Saint Leo will hit the road for its first true road trip as well as the Sunshine State Conference opener on February 21 at Tampa. The two teams will play a three-game series with a single game Friday at 6 p.m. with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.
 
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.