GULF SHORES, Ala. - Saint Leo Softball got the 2022 season started with a 7-1 win over West Georgia in their first game on Saturday in the Gulf Shores Invitational. After both games on Friday got canceled, the win meant just a little more for the Lions to finally get the season underway. 

West Georgia got the scoring started in the first inning to go on top, 1-0. But Saint Leo bounced back and answered in the second inning via a Deanna Falciglia RBI single that scored Emily Pilon to tie the ballgame. 

Then in the third inning, the Lions were able to take the lead on a huge RBI triple down the right field off the bat of Isabella Andujar that scored Alyssa Perez to make the score 2-1 Saint Leo. The third inning rout continued once Pilon reached on an error by West Georgia's shortstop that allowed Caroline Barwick and Andujar to both score. The Lions had a 4-1 lead after three innings. 

The offense continued in the fourth inning when Alyssa Perez took advantage of an infield error off a sac bunt. Alexandra Hare and Jordyn Wolfe, making her Lions debut, both came home to score on the West Georgia miscue to make it 6-1 Saint Leo. It was the same situation in the seventh inning for Bayley Williams when she layed down a sac bunt that was misplayed, allowing Pilon to score again. Saint Leo had a 7-1 lead after five innings. 

The pitching for Saint Leo in their season opener was just as explosive as their offense. Rachel Bean got the start to open 2022 and the junior from Colorado went four innings giving up just one run on six hits. Bean struck out two while walking three. 

Kayla Betts came on in the fifth inning to go the rest of the way for Saint Leo, throwing hitless softball and punching out six West Georgia Wolves. Bean got the win while Betts earned the save.