SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team had to wait one extra day for its 2021 season to get underway but the wait was well worth it as the Lions earned a split with the second-ranked Spartans of the University of Tampa capped off by an extra innings walk-off from redshirt senior Danny Torres. The pitching staff put together a masterful performance on the mound holding the potent Spartans lineup to just three hits in the nightcap including no hits or walks over the final three innings.
 
Tampa took the season opener 10-5 over the Lions in large part due to a big five-run third inning. The Lions came back in game two and used five pitchers to slow down the Tampa offense and secure a 5-4 victory.
 
Game two, which was originally scheduled for seven innings, was tied 4-4 after four innings before both pitching staffs went into shutdown mode. The Lions three pitchers over the final five innings of play combined to give up one hit while Tampa's reliever, Jordan Leasure, went 4.2 innings with just three hits allowed and an impressive 11 strikeouts.
 
As both offenses went cold it was the Lions who finally struck in the ninth. Senior Owen Jansen led off the inning with a strikeout but took advantage of a passed ball by the catcher to take first. He then scrambled his way to second on a wild pitch which set the table for Torres who delivered the clutch hit just over the third baseman's head. Torres looped what normally would be a double down the left field line and Jansen sprinted his way around the bases to secure the victory. Torres then led the entire Saint Leo dugout on a chase throughout the infield and outfield as they celebrated the fifth-year senior's walk-off knock.
 
Redshirt junior transfer Devin Blair picked up the victory on the mound for the Lions in his debut but it was a total staff effort as five pitchers saw action in the game. Junior Jestin Jones took the start and went 3.1 innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four. He walked a pair and saw four runners cross the plate. Fifth-year senior Joey Antonopoulos pitched the next third of an inning while not allowing a hit or walk. Redshirt sophomore Jared Beck took over and pitched the next 2.1 innings with three Ks and three walks. He allowed just one hit and no runs crossed the plate. Senior McCabe Sargent made his return to the mound and went 2.0 strong innings with three strikeouts and no walks or hits allowed. Blair came in for the final inning and struck out two while not allowing a baserunner.
 
Torres went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and drove in two Lion runs. Senior Amir Wright also picked up two hits as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a double. In game one redshirt junior Adrien Roa was the lone Lion with more than one hit as he went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Junior Eddie Niemann III was 1-for-3 but drove in two runs while earning a walk, a run scored and connecting on a double.
 
Four Lions saw the mound in game one with starter Jimmy Burnette suffering the loss after going 2.0 innings on the mound.
 
The Lions will return to action Thursday, March 4 as they open up conference play at home against Barry. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch and will be streamed live on the Sunshine State Conference Digital Network.
 
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