SAINT LEO, Fla. – In what can be described as a reversal of roles, the Saint Leo baseball team fell Wednesday night at home to Florida Southern 13-5 in a near reversal of last Wednesday's result in Lakeland, a 12-2 Saint Leo victory. The Lions who were all over the base paths a week ago struggled to get the offense rolling Wednesday night while the Mocs who mustered just two runs a week ago busted out 18 hits and 13 runs inside Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
 
The Mocs scored in all but the first two innings including three runs in the third, five in the fourth and single runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The Lions took the early 1-0 lead after the first and tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the third but after a five run fourth, the Mocs never trailed again.
 
Senior Sam Crail was nearly a one-man offensive machine as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, three RBI, a triple and a home run. Crail nearly went for the cycle as he opened his day with a single in the first, followed by a two-run home run in the third and an RBI triple in the fifth. In his final plate appearance in the seventh he went down on a dropped third strike in which he did not realize the umpire had called him out for swinging.
 
Eddie Niemann III, PJ Barry and Jake Vander Wal all picked up hits in the game. Vander Wal was 1-for-4 with two RBI, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly.
 
Redshirt sophomore Jared Beck suffered his second loss on the mound going the first 3.1 innings with two strikeouts and a trio of walks. Five others saw time on the mound with all six pitchers giving up at least one run.
 
The Lions will get right back to action this Friday as they travel to Florida Tech to open up a three-game Sunshine State Conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
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.
 
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.