SAINT LEO, Fla. – In another day of defensive dueling, the #20 Saint Leo University split the series doubleheader with Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Friday afternoon, taking Game One 2-0 before the Eagles won a 2-0 contest themselves in the second game at University Softball Stadium.
 
Game One: #20 SLU 2, ERAU 0
Junior infielder Alyssa Perez and Sophomore outfielder Hope Epps led the hitting charge for Saint Leo (27-4, 10-2 SSC), with each batter hitting 2-for-3 from the dish.  Embry-Riddle (16-13, 3-6 SSC) managed two total hits in the twinbill's first game.
 
Junior pitcher Kayla Swinson got the starting nod and pitched four innings to allow both hits while fanning two.
 
Minutes after the first pitch, the contest was halted after a controversial obstruction play occurred from a triple delivered by ERAU's Mahaliyah Sandridge, who made contact with Perez rounding first base.  On the play, Sandridge attempted to take home before being ran down and tagged by Junior catcher Madyson Coe for the out.  Initially, the obstruction call would have given the Eagles a 1-0 lead, but after approximately 20 minutes of deliberating, the call was overturned, and the out was upheld.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Lions were poised to pounce first, loading the bases with one out before the Eagles escaped the jam with a strikeout and a line drive at shortstop.  Saint Leo threatened again two innings later with two runners in scoring position before ERAU's pitcher struck out Freshman outfielder Grace Dunsworth to end the inning and keep the game deadlocked 0-0.

Perez found a breakthrough for the Green & Gold in the fifth with a RBI single to bring in Fifth-year outfielder Bayley Williams for the go-ahead run.  Even with the bases loaded again, the Lions could only cash in on one run.
 
Junior pitcher Kayla Betts entered in the sixth in relief for Junior pitcher Morgan Shannon (3-0), striking out three consecutive batters following a leadoff walk.  The Leesburg, Fla. native's efforts would pay off in the inning's bottom half, as Saint Leo would add another run to extend the lead 2-0 from a RBI by Freshman infielder Briana Neal to bring in Freshman outfielder Bianca Polistina.
 
Betts finished off the Eagles in the seventh, pitching a 1-2-3 to pick up a fourth save on the season.
 
While the Lions won the game 2-0, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) is protesting the contest from the obstruction call in the first inning.
 
Game Two: ERAU 2, #20 SLU 0
Despite outhitting the Eagles 5-2, the Lions struggled to capitalize on runs.  Williams went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Neal converted on her lone at-bat.
 
Freshman Haleigh Thomas (5-1) threw four innings and gave up no hits and no earned runs while striking out four and walking four.  Freshman pitcher Tierney Hocquard also saw time in the circle, throwing three innings with two hits allowed, two strikeouts, one run and one walk.
 
For the first three innings, fans saw another deadlocked scenario in play before a pair of Saint Leo errors in the fourth gave away for an ERAU 1-0 lead.  With a runner on third and one gone, the Lions gambled on a sacrifice fly by Perez to tie the game before the Eagles' outfield throw was made in time to put Neal out at home.
 
In the fifth inning with runners on second and third, the Green & Gold gambled again, as Williams attempted to advance home on an Epps' chopper to second before being put out at home.
 
The Eagles would add to its slim lead in the sixth (2-0) off a dead ball call that allowed the runners to advance.
 
Saint Leo attempted to even the score in the sixth and seventh innings, but ERAU prevented a hitting threat to occur and preserved the shutout win over the Lions.
 
The Green & Gold have a huge midweek twinbill on the horizon, hosting #10 Valdosta State Wednesday.  First pitch at University Softball Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
 
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.