GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Saint Leo University softball team continued to build its South Regional resume of the 2023 season Saturday, defeating the University of Montevallo 5-3 before coming back to beat the Bearcats of Lander University also by a score of 5-3 Saturday at the Gulf Shores Complex.
 
SLU 5, UM 3
Saint Leo (4-0) displayed a great showing from the plate, recording 11 hits while limiting Montevallo (1-3) to just four.  Freshman infielder Briana Neal and Freshman outfielder Bianca Polistina both finished 3-for-3 and Sophomore catcher Madyson Coe went 2-for-3.  Polistina tallied three RBIs in the game.
 
Freshman Tierney Hocquard started her first collegiate contest, pitching four innings and allowing two runs and three hits with two strikeouts.  Freshman Ainsley Perdicaris (1-0) was awarded the win as Junior pitcher Kayla Betts picked up her first save of the season.
 
After Montevallo struck first 2-0, the Lions took advantage of a Falcons' outfield error in the bottom of the first from a hit made by Coe, as Junior infielder Alexandra Hare scored Saint Leo's first run.
 
The Green & Gold would tie the game (2-2) in the bottom of the second with Polistina's first RBI before taking its first lead in the fourth when Neal scored on a wild throw.
 
Following a Montevallo RBI that tied the game 3-3, Polistina delivered a 2RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
 
Betts took over for Perdicaris in the sixth inning, pitching the final two innings to preserve the 5-3 win.
 
SLU 5, LU 3
Once again, the Lions found themselves trailing early before coming back to take a win, this time against the Lander Bearcats. 
 
Hare and Coe both went 2-for-3, respectively recording two and one RBI, as Junior infielder Alyssa Perez went 2-for-2 with one RBI.
 
Freshman pitcher Haleigh Thomas (2-0) picked up another win after throwing three innings and allowing no runs, one hit, and fanning six.
 
Trailing 2-0, Saint Leo got on the scoreboard in the third inning as Junior infielder Alyssa Perez was walked home.  An inning later, Hare's 2RBI double brought home the go-ahead run.
 
With the game tied 3-3 into the seventh inning, Coe delivered the game-winning RBI that brought home Hare (4-3) before a sacrifice fly RBI from Fifth-year infielder Kendyl Crean made it a two-run lead for the Lions before Thomas finished off the Bearcats' batters from the pitcher's circle to solidify another 5-3 win.
 
Saint Leo concludes play in Gulf Shores Sunday with games against Spring Hill College (12 p.m. EST) and West Georgia (2:30 p.m. EST).
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo softball, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.