MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team found itself on the wrong end of a 9-1 score Friday night in Melbourne, Fla., as the host Florida Tech Panthers earned the first win in a three-game series. The Lions and Panthers will settle the series tomorrow, April 17 with a doubleheader inside Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
 
The loss drops Saint Leo to 6-10 on the season including 5-9 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Panthers improved to 8-9 while moving to 7-8 in league action.
 
Redshirt junior Paul Coumoulos was the lone Lion with multiple hits on the day as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk. Redshirt senior Danny Torres drove in the lone Lions run on the day, a bases loaded walk in the second.
 
Redshirt senior Jimmy Burnette started the game on the mound and suffered his fourth loss of the season after going 5.0 innings on the mound. He struck out five and did not surrender a walk. Redshirt junior Devin Blair and sophomore Nathan Crissey each went an inning of relief on the mound and neither surrendered a hit.
 
The Lions took the early 1-0 lead in the second as a single followed by three walks earned the Lions their lone run of the game. The Panthers then scored nine unanswered runs including one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, a single run in the fifth and then three insurance runs in the eighth.
 
The Lions and Panthers will close out the Sunshine State Conference series tomorrow, April 17 with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at the home of the Lions, Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
 
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.