FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team pounded out 10 hits Wednesday afternoon at Nova Southeastern but it was not enough to slow down the Sharks who took the Sunshine State Conference series opener 13-4. Redshirt senior Jake Vander Wal led the team with three hits as he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, two RBI, a double and a homerun.
 
The loss drops the Lions' record to 7-15 while their SSC mark falls to 6-14. The Sharks moved to 11-9 overall and 9-9 in league action.
 
Redshirt junior Paul Coumoulos was the only other Lions with more than one hit as he went 2-for-4 at the dish with a run scored. Senior Jackson Blevins was a perfect 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI, a hit by pitch, a walk and a sacrifice fly.
 
Junior Jestin Jones took the start on the mound for the Lions and went 3.2 innings with three strikeouts against no walks. He allowed eight hits and saw seven runs cross the plate including six earned. He was tagged with the loss. Four other Lions saw action on the mound with redshirt junior Devin Blair having the strongest outing going 1.2 innings with a strikeout and no base runners allowed.
 
After a scoreless top of the first that saw two Lions reach base, the Sharks quickly got on board with a lead-off homerun in the bottom of the inning. The Sharks would add two more runs in the third before the Lions ended the inning by turning a double play. Vander Wal opened the top of the fourth with a double off the left field wall and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Blevins then brought him home for the Lions first run of the day on a sacrifice fly to right center.
 
The Sharks exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth off of five hits and one Lion error to open up an 8-1 lead. They tagged two more runs on in the fifth before the Lions responded with a pair of their own in the sixth. Coumoulos opened the inning with a single to centerfield before moving to second on a wild pitch. Vander Wal then brought Coumoulos home with an RBI single down the right field line. After a Blevins HBP and a Danny Torres walk, the Lions had the bases loaded with two outs. Redshirt junior PJ Barry was next at the plate and sent a single up the middle to score Vander Wal but the momentum would end with a groundout in the next at bat.
 
The Lions scored their final run in the top of the seventh as Vander Wal hit a two-out solo homerun to right field. The Sharks added one more run in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the eighth to end the scoring at 13-4.
 
The Green and Gold had 10 hits compared to the Sharks' 15 while Saint Leo committed five errors to Nova's one.   
 
The Lions and Sharks will close out their three-game conference series this Friday, April 30 at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader inside Thomas B. Southard Stadium. Saint Leo will honor its six seniors who will be graduating this spring prior to the first game of the doubleheader.
 
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, limiting the number of 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.