SAINT LEO, Fla. - Saint Leo Baseball took down Mars Hill in walk-off fashion on Opening Night after Yazael Nunez brought home the winning run on a shallow fly ball ball that dropped between three Mars Hill players, bringing home Zach Benson from third. 

With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Adrien Roa singled to start the Saint Leo rally. After Roa was pinch run for by Benson, Peyton Meredith grounded out to the mound to advance Benson to second. The Lithia, Fla. native then got to third on a wild pitch that set up Nunez with the chance to bring home the winning run, causing a mob scene on the infield for the Green and Gold. 

It was a pitcher's duel for most of the ballgame. Saint Leo starter Jared Beck went five innings of beautiful pitching, allowing just one run. Beck gave up two hits and one run while striking out eight and walking three. Beck's performance was followed up by three innings of relief work from Drew Rudsinski. Rudsinski gave up just one run and three hits while striking out three. Andy Booth came on in the ninth and kept the game knotted at 2-2 with two strikeouts. 

For Mars Hill, they got 5.2 innings of work from Andrew Hazell, who punched out five while giving up two runs on three hits. 

The scoring was early and late for Saint Leo. The Lions got their first two runs quickly in the first inning. Errors in the infield cost Mars Hill when two passed balls Sam Crail and Paul Coumoulos to come home with the game's first two runs. 

Mars Hill finally got to Jared Beck in the top of the fifth inning on a Jordan Lathe home run to left. Mars Hill would then tie the game in the sixth off Rudsinski on a sac fly to left off the bat of Lathe that scored Zach Weaver. 

Saint Leo starts the season 1-0, while Mars Hill drops their season opener. The two ballclubs will be back at it on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 from Thomas B. Southard Stadium.  

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