MELBOURNE, Fla. – The #23 Saint Leo University softball team was unable to pull a third, consecutive Sunshine State Conference sweep Saturday afternoon, as Florida Tech upset the Lions in Game One 4-2 before the Green & Gold defeated the Panthers 8-0 in Game Two at Nancy Bottge Field.
 
FT 4, #23 SLU 2
Once again, Saint Leo (18-3, 8-1 SSC) produced hits, but was only able to cash in on a limited number of runs, despite outhitting Florida Tech (10-13, 2-7 SSC) in the contest 7-6.  Sophomore Shyanne Waller was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with one RBI.
 
Junior pitcher Kayla Swinson (3-2) got the starting nod, as the Lions used four different pitchers in the contest.
 
Trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning, Saint Leo started gaining momentum, as back-to-back RBIs from Waller and Sophomore utility Caroline Barwick cut the deficit to one run (3-2) before a popup fly from Fifth-year Kendyl Crean ended the inning with two left on base.
 
One inning later, Junior infielder Alexandra Hare found the bases via hit-by-pitch, as the Lions attempted to advance the Trinity, Fla. native around the bases through sacrifice hits and grounders before being stranded at third.
 
After the Panthers added another run to push its lead back to two (4-2), the Lions took advantage of a Florida Tech error that allowed Junior infielder Alyssa Perez to take first before FT closed out the inning and take the 4-2 upset win.
 
#23 SLU 8, FT 0
The tough setback was enough fuel for Saint Leo to activate its #LIONMODE, unleashing 15 hits against the Panthers in the team's shutout win.  Hare and Freshman infielder Briana Neal had perfect showings at the dish, each going 4-for-4 with multiple RBIs.
 
Junior pitcher Kayla Betts (8-0) recorded her sixth shutout of the season, allowing three hits and fanning five in a complete game.
 
Neal set the tone for the Lions, blasting a two-run homerun to give Saint Leo a 2-0 lead.  The Sanford, Fla. native added another RBI in the fifth inning that extended Saint Leo's lead to 3-0.
 
Hare joined the RBI party in the sixth, tacking on a 2RBI single that pushed the difference to five runs.
 
The Green & Gold iced the contest with three more runs scored in the seventh off errors from the Panthers that solidified the 8-0 victory and the series win over the Panthers.
 
Saint Leo is back home Tuesday to host a non-conference doubleheader against Chestnut Hill College.  First pitch at University Softball Stadium is slated for 5 p.m.
 
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