SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team split its doubleheader with visiting Florida Tech Saturday including winning a wild second game 12-8. The Lions led 7-1 after four innings before the Panthers sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth before the Lions picked up an out. The Panthers eventually scored seven runs in the inning and took an 8-7 lead before the Lions reigned things back in for the victory. The Panthers took the opening game of the day 10-6.
 
The split moves the Lions record to 7-11, 6-10 in league play while the Panthers moved to 9-10 overall and 8-9 in Sunshine State Conference play.
 
Twelve Lions picked up at least one hit on the day with eight finishing with two or more. Seniors Jake Vander Wal and Sam Crail each finished with four hits on the day. Vander Wal was 4-for-7 with two triples, four runs scored, four RBI, two stolen bases and two walks. Crail was 4-for-8 with three runs scored, three RBI and five stolen bases. Vander Wal was 3-for-3 at the plate in the Lions victory with three RBI, three runs scored, a walk, a triple and two stolen bases. Crail earned two of his hits in the victory while driving in a run and stealing three bases.
 
Junior Eddie Niemann III finished with three RBI in the victory. He was 2-for-4 at the plate in game two with three RBI and a pair of doubles.
 
Senior McCabe Sargent made the start in the second game and went 4.0 innings with three strikeouts and two walks. When he exited the game the Lions held a 7-1 lead. Three other pitchers combined to get no outs in the fifth and see seven runs cross the plate before sophomore Dariel Fregio entered the game and shut down the explosive inning. Fregio entered with runners on second and third and no outs. He induced a foul out and back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning. Sophomore Yazael Nunez then moved from his shortstop position to the mound and closed out the game pitching the final 2.0 innings with a strikeout and no hits allowed.
 
The Lions used three pitchers in the opening game of the day as Jestin Jones suffered his second loss of the season while pitching 6.0 innings on the mound. He struck out seven and walked four while five runs crossed the plate including just two earned.
 
The Panthers scored four runs in the first inning of the first game including hitting a home run on the very first pitch of the game. Jones would shut the Panthers down for the next five innings as the Lions mounted a comeback. Saint Leo scored a run in the second, two in the fourth and a single run in the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. The Panthers offense responded in the seventh with three more runs and two more in the eighth before the Lions struck again in the eighth for two runs to cut the lead to 9-6. The Panthers added an insurance run in the ninth for a 10-6 lead.
 
The second game saw the Lions score runs in all but one inning. The Panthers once again got on the board first with a run in the first before the Lions scored two in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth for the 7-1 lead. The Panthers strung together six hits including a grand slam, two walks and a hit by pitch to score their seven runs. The Lions quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth to cement the 12-8 victory.
 
The Lions will now focus on Tampa whom the Lions split a non-conference doubleheader with earlier this season. The Spartans and Lions will take to the field at Thomas B. Southard Stadium Friday, April 23 for a 6 p.m. contest.
 
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.