SAINT LEO, Fla. – No. 23 Saint Leo softball completed the series sweep of Lynn with a pair of wins (2-1, 6-2) in a doubleheader Saturday at University Softball Stadium.
 
Saint Leo scattered 14 hits on the day from nine different players for a team average of .311 while plating eight runs between the two games. Bayley Williams led the way with three hits while Alexis Miniet, Morgan Shannon, and Kacie Kelly each tallied a pair. Alyssa Perez, Alexandra Hare, Madyson Coe, Alli Jaquith, and Shelby Westbrook each notched a hit on the day.
 
Williams was the team leader in scoring with two while six others scored one run over the 14 innings of play.
 
Three pitchers saw action on the field with Kayla Betts going the distance in game one to earn her fifth win of the season behind 7.0 strong innings with six strikeouts and just one run on two hits. Sadi Avants opened up game two and went 3.2 innings before rolling things over to Madi Mott for the final 3.1 to combine for the win where Mott was tabbed with the win moving to 3-1 on the year.
 
Defensively, the Green and Gold had solid play in the field, where as a group they committed just a single error in 56 chances for a .982 fielding percentage.
 
Records
#23 Saint Leo 12-4, 9-3 SSC
Lynn 0-12, 0-9 SSC
 
#23 Saint Leo 2, Lynn 1
After three and a half scoreless innings, the Lions opened things up with two in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two on three hits leaving one stranded. Bayley Williams and Kacie Kelly opened the frame with back to back singles, where Williams used a chopper over the third baseman's head followed by a bunt single by Kelly to put runners at first and second.
 
After a quick sacrifice bunt, Alyssa Perez would reach on a fielder's choice scoring Williams from third, as Kelly slid into third on the throw. Alexandra Hare's RBI-single to left field scored the game winning run in Kelly.
 
The Lions forced a quick fifth but the Fighting Knights pressured in the sixth scoring one on two hits, leaving one duck on the pond. Saint Leo tried to rally for one in the bottom half after Miniet walked but couldn't get a two-out rally and sent the game to the final frame.
 
A quick 1-2-3 inning for Betts and the Green and Gold allowed for the 2-1 escape of the Fighting Knights in game one. Betts sat down the first two batters via the 'K', both swinging, before a weak popup to Perez at short ended the contest.
 
#23 Saint Leo 6, Lynn 2
Feeling the momentum from game one, Saint Leo opened up with a quick three in the bottom half of the first inning. Lynn answered with two runs in the fourth but the Green and Gold answered quickly with two of their own and added an extra in the fifth.
 
Morgan Shannon walked and then stole second. Bayley Williams would beat out the bunt for a single advancing Shannon to third, before swiping second. A wild pitch allowed for Shannon to score, and Williams to shift to third before Kacie Kelly knocked in an RBI-single to left center, then advanced to second on a wild pitch that ensued. Alexis Miniet would be the third run of the game after reaching base safely on a five-pitch walk and coming in to score on a groundout to shortstop.
 
After a quick Lynn pitching change, the game would see two scoreless frames before the Fighting Knights added two in the fourth. The Lions answered with two runs on four hits with two left on as Alli Jaquith scored on a single from Shelby Westbrook, who then came in to score on a Bayley Williams single down the third base line.
 
Saint Leo added their final run in the fifth on a Madyson Coe sac fly scoring Rachel Bean, who served as a pinch runner for Miniet who singled to open the inning.
 
Madi Mott was dealing as she sat down the Fighting Knights in order over the final two frames with three flyouts, two groundouts and a strikeout as Saint Leo went on for the 6-2 victory.
 
Up Next
Saint Leo is set to tango with No. 5 Rollins in a top-25 showdown. Game one of the series is April 1 in Winter Park while the doubleheader of the series is slated for April 2 at 6 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.