SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team fell to Alabama Huntsville, 9-8 after battling to force extra innings Friday evening. The Lions will look to bounce back in the rubber match tomorrow against the Chargers.

Alabama Huntsville came out of the gates firing, jumping out to a quick two run lead in the first inning. The Chargers would tack on another run in the top of the first to lead the Lions by three.

Guiseppe Arcuri got the Lions started in the bottom half of the second with a lead off double down the right field line. Cooper Miles would get the Lions on the board with an RBI single up the middle.

The Chargers would answer back and end Brayden Heidel's night in the top of the third with two more runs.
Andy booth would come in for Hiedel and help stall the Chargers offense giving the Lions a chance to fight back. Booth finished his evening tossing 3.1 innings striking out one batter while allowing two hits, and one run. Booth would give the ball to Drew Rudinski who would continue to hold an eager Alabama Huntsville offense. Rudinki faced 14 batters through three frames allowing one earned run.

The Lions would chip away at the Chargers lead tallying three runs in the eighth. Brennan Reback would ignite a rally for the Green & Gold blasting a solo shot to left field. Miles would follow suit with a single to right center. A failed pickoff attempt during Mikey Scott's at bat would move Miles to third. Scott would single on a short dribbler near the left field line. The Lions would earn their second run of the inning when Buck Anderson would reach on a fielders choice. Anderson would score the third run of the inning when Bobby Sparling would hit a single to right center.

Saint Leo would battle to force extra innings in the bottom of the ninth. Luke Houin wore a pitch after battling in the box to kick off the inning. Zach Benson would come in to pinch run for Houin to add some speed on the base path for the Green & Gold. Benson would find himself in scoring position after two wild pitches by Will Griffith. Scott would drive the game into extras with a sacrifice fly, scoring Benson.

Alabama Huntsville answered immediately back scoring two runs in the top of the 10^th. The Lions would add pressure on Griffith but would fall short in their first extra innings test of the season.

Bobby Sparling finished 3-for-3 wiith two RBIs, two walks, and a double. Mikey Scott finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.

Griffith earned his first win of the season for the Chargers while Jestin Jones fell to 0-1.

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