LAKELAND, Fla. – A ninth inning rally lifted the 11^th-ranked Saint Leo softball team over the Florida Southern Moccasins 4-0 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader before the Mocs were able to steal the series finale 4-1 at Chris Bellotto Field.
 
Saint Leo dropped just its second game of the season and the first Sunshine State Conference game to sit at a 6-2, 5-1 SSC record on the young season.

Kayla Betts earned her fourth win in the circle after a nine-inning affair with the Mocs going the distance with seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits for the duration of the game. Betts has lowered her ERA to sub-1.00 and sits at 0.81 after four appearances and 26.0 innings of work on the season.
 
Kacie Kelly paced the Green and Gold with three of the 11 hits on the day with a team-best two RBI.
 
#11 Saint Leo 4, Florida Southern 0 (9 innings)
Saint Leo and Florida Southern played scoreless ball through eight innings but the Green and Gold were able to crack through in the top of the ninth. After leaving eight runners on through eight innings, including bases loaded in the third, Kacie Kelly blew the doors open of the 0-0 game with a two-run double over the left fielder's head.
 
Digging into the box with two outs in the top of the ninth, Rachel Bean, who would go on to be the winning run, hit a shot through the left side to give the Lions a base runner. A fielding error down the right field line allowed Bean to race around the bases from first to score as Emily Pilon reached third on the error.
 
Maddy Lynn drew a walk to put two on for the Jacksonville, Fla. native, Kelly. Kelly would hit a strong double over the left fielder's head allowing Lynn and Pilon to come in for the second and third runs of the inning. Madyson Coe would come to the plate for her first appearance in the Green and Gold and single through the right-side allowing Kelly to score the fourth and eventual final run of the game.
 
Betts, who got her fourth start and second complete game, came into the bottom of the ninth wheeling and dealing and sat the Mocs down in order, 1-2-3, with a strikeout, pop out to Alyssa Perez at short, and fly out to Rachel Bean in center field.
 
Florida Southern 4, #11 Saint Leo 1
Looking to take the 4-0 sweep in the series, Saint Leo got on the board first with a run in the third inning of game two. Maddy Lynn started the inning with a double to left field and advanced to third on a Kelly bunt single to the pitcher. Morgan Shannon came in and scored Lynn on a ground out to second for the first run of the game.
 
Sadi Avants, who got the nod for game two, pitched five shutout innings, including allowing zero hits until the leadoff pinch hitter for the Mocs. Shannon came into relief Avants with two on and no outs before Florida Southern hung four in the bottom half of the sixth.
 
Saint Leo couldn't get a groove in the seventh and suffered just its second loss of the season.
 
Up Next
Saint Leo will welcome in Palm Beach Atlantic for a doubleheader Thursday, March 18 starting at 2 p.m. at University Softball Stadium.
 
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.

How to Watch
Lions fans are able to watch the game and follow live stats via the Sunshine State Conference Digital Network where the Green and Gold's home games will be streamed and carry live statistics. For viewing any of the Green and Gold's contests against conference opponents, go to sunshinestateconference.tv or directly to the Lions' portal HERE. For following along with the live stats, fans can view them HERE. For more coverage of the Saint Leo softball program or any of the University's intercollegiate events, go to saintleolions.com/coverage.

Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, holding competitions without fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.