FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Saint Leo softball traveled to Nova Southeastern for the final regular season doubleheader where the Lions and Sharks fought to split the twinbill Sunday afternoon at the AD Griffin Sports Complex. To start game one, Kacie Kelly picked up her 270^th career hit, which broke the tie for the program's record. In game two, Madi Mott pitched lights out to get the win over the Sharks with nine strikeouts.
 
Kacie Kelly started the day off tied for first in program history with Denyve Duncan (2002-05) for career hits with 269 and ended with four base knocks¹. Kelly laid down a beautiful bunt on the 1-0 count and beat it out for an infield single to start game one. She followed that up with another hit in the game and two more in the second game-ending the regular season with a career count of 273 looking to add on in the postseason.
 
As a team, the Lions had 16 hits with 21 stranded runners. Kelly concluded the regular season series with a 4-for-8 performance.
 
Alexis Miniet finished her day with a 3-for-7 day at the plate with that extra-base hit in game two to tie the game as both Kelly and Miniet each scored for the Lions. Alexandra Hare put together a 3-for-8 day with Madi Mott going 2-for-3, and Emily Pilon 2-for-6.
 
Mott, Kayla Betts, and Morgan Shannon saw action in the twinbill where Betts and Shannon teamed up for game one with six combined strikeouts in the six innings of work. Mott went seven strong with nine strikeouts for her fifth win of the season and her 11^th career in the Green and Gold.
 
Records
Saint Leo 18-12, 14-9 SSC
Nova Southeastern 12-9, 9-7 SSC
 
Nova Southeastern 4, Saint Leo 0
Neither team would score in the first three innings, despite having base runners on early in the contest. The Sharks would strike first in the fourth inning before plating three more in the fifth, holding the Lions scoreless for the 4-0 shutout.
 
Saint Leo stranded 11 runners on base with seven hits while Kacie Kelly and Alexis Miniet each picked up two hits in the game with Alexandra Hare, Madyson Coe, and Morgan Shannon tallying one apiece.
 
Saint Leo 2, Nova Southeastern 1
Much of the same in game two as the opening two frames were scoreless followed by a single run of the Sharks in the third. Three scoreless frames would send the game to the top of the seventh and Saint Leo down to its final three outs needing one run to tie things up.
 
After a groundout, Kacie Kelly stepped in singled to left center putting the tying run on first but one swing of the bat from Alexis Miniet plated Kelly and put Miniet, the go-ahead run, on second. Alexandra Hare would lay down a bunt single and move Miniet to third and reach first safely before swiping second with two outs.
 
Madyson Coe dug in with two runners in scoring position and just one out and hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring the go-ahead run in Miniet. After the third out was recorded, it was turned over to the bottom half and senior Madi Mott took control, like much of the game she did.
 
Entering the bottom of the seventh with a 2-1 lead and eight strikeouts thus far, Mott worked ahead in the count to all three batters she faced. The first batter flew out to center field before a quick foul out to Kelly at second. Ahead 1-2 in the count, Mott retired the side with a swinging strikeout to end the contest with nine K's.
 
The Lions stranded 10 runners and tallied nine hits where Kelly, Hare, Mott, and Emily Pilon all had two with Miniet the lone extra-base knock.
 
Up Next
Saint Leo will await the NCAA committee's regional selection show set for May 16 via a stream on ncaa.com
 
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.

 
¹ - Kacie Kelly broke the program's career hits record (270+) after notching her first single in game one May 2, 2021 at Nova Southeastern. She tied Denyve Duncan (2002-05) for the program's record on April 25 for a total of 269.