SAINT LEO, Fla. – On a breezy, Sunday afternoon, the #22 Saint Leo University softball team engaged in another defensive battle against Lee before breaking the game open late to ultimately prevail 7-2 and take the series sweep at University Softball Stadium.
 
Junior pitcher Morgan Shannon (2-0) ended up pitching seven innings, allowing no earned runs from four hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts.  At the dish, the Clermont, Fla. native went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
Sophomore infielder Shyanne Waller was perfect at the plate for a fourth time this season, hitting 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
 
Shannon relieved Freshman Haleigh Thomas in the first inning after Lee (6-17, 3-6 GSC) began the game with three, straight walks.  Saint Leo (25-3, 8-1 SSC) then made an incredible escape, as Waller fielded a tough blooper over the pitcher to make the fielder's choice throw to Freshman catcher Hailey Beuerlein for the putout before a Shannon strikeout and fly out to left field on the next at-bats kept the contest scoreless.
 
Freshman Briana Neal led off the second with a walk before advancing to scoring position with a stolen base.  Waller's first RBI of the day cashed in Neal to put the Lions up first.
 
The Flames were on the verge of tying the game 1-1 in the fourth inning following a Saint Leo fielding error to load the bases before Shannon struck out Lee's Javaria Smith on the next at-bat to leave runners on every base for the second time in the contest.  The Green & Gold took that momentum into the inning's bottom half, starting the order with two hits before Waller's sacrifice fly brought home Sophomore outfielder Hope Epps (2-0).  Moments later, alert baserunning paid off for Saint Leo, extending the lead 3-0 from a run scored by Freshman outfielder Bianca Polistina after Sophomore Caroline Barwick successfully stole second.
 
After Lee scored its first run of the series in the sixth inning, Saint Leo responded with four more runs, highlighted by Shannon's 2RBI single that propelled the Green & Gold to a 7-1 lead.
 
Lee would find one more run in the seventh inning before Shannon finished off the Flames from the circle to secure a 7-2 win and the series sweep.
 
The Lions return to Sunshine State Conference action Friday for its weekend series against Embry-Riddle (Fla.).  First pitch at University Softball Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.
 
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