SAINT LEO, Fla. - Saint Leo softball shutout Nova Southeastern Friday afternoon in the home finale at University Softball Stadium, 6-0. The Lions scattered seven hits in the Sunshine State Conference matchup led by Emily Pilon with three. Kayla Betts earned the win in the circle hurling five strong innings.

Saint Leo (17-11, 14-8 SSC) started the day off strong with one run in the first and two in the second for a quick 3-0 lead. The Lions got shutout in the third and fourth, but added one in the fifth and two in the sixth before the Green and Gold shut the door on Nova Southeastern (11-8, 8-6 SSC) in the top of the seventh. 

Kacie Kelly started the bottom half of the first off with a full-count walk before coming in to open the scoring on a Madyson Coe single up the middle. After a quick 1-2-3 inning by Kayla Betts in the top of the second, Saint Leo got right back to work with two in the second. Emily Pilon singled to right center followed by an Alli Jaquith walk for two on and one out. Kendyl Crean would keep the inning rolling with a single to center field to what would load the bases but Pilon rounded third a hair too far and forced the Sharks' pitcher to throw over to third, which went sailing past the base and into left field foul territory. After scrambling to her feet, Pilon scored, and not far behind was Jaquith for a quick 3-0 lead. 

Both teams would strand runners in the third and fourth, while the Sharks left runners on in the top half of a wild fifth inning. With runners on first and second and no outs, the Lions would turn a wild double play on a ball up the middle that everyone believed Alyssa Perez caught but instead recorded two outs on a 6-5-4-double play. A hard lineout to left field would end the top of the inning three batters later.

The Lions plated another run in the fifth thanks to a groundout to the right side of the infield, allowing Alexandra Hare to score. Nova Southeastern would strand yet another runner in the top of the sixth. Saint Leo would plate two more on two hits in the sixth. Pilon opened up the frame with her third hit of the day before coming to score on an Alexis Miniet single to left field, also scoring Kayleice Hooks, who reached via a hit-by-pitch in her third at-bat of the season. 

Madi Mott, who relieved Betts in the top of the sixth, walked in three outs away in the top of the seventh and stranded two Sharks on base after a two-out double and an infield single. 

Betts picked up her ninth win of the season in 5.0 innings of work allowing six hits and seven strikeouts. Mott pitched the final 2.0 innings with just three hits and one strikeout. 

Pilon led the offensive charge going 3-for-3 with two singles and a double while scoring two runs. Alexis Miniet, Alexandra Hare, Madyson Coe, and Kendyl Crean all tallied one hit in the ballgame as Kacie Kelly, Alli Jaquith, Kayleice Hooks, and Hare all scored a run in the single-game Friday.

Saint Leo closed out the home portion of the regular season with an 8-7 record at University Softball Stadium and will look to add to its 9-4 road record Sunday.

Up Next
Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern will head to the AD Griffin Sports Complex in Fort Lauderdale for a doubleheader May 2nd starting at 2 p.m.