SAINT LEO, Fla- The Saint Leo baseball team welcomed Wilmington University for a midweek non-conference showdown. The Lions defeated the Wildcats, 8-2.
 
With the win the Lions improve to 7-9 on the season.
 
The Lions found themselves in a hole early with runners at the corners in the top of the first inning. Saint Leo would catch Mikey Rodriguez breaking for the plate after a steal attempt by JJ Killen. Buck Anderson cut the play off and fired it to Ryan Jackson to stop the Wildcats from scoring the first run of the game.
 
Ryan Jackson would connect on a fastball to hit his first collegiate hit. After Yazael Nunez would get hit by a pitch, the Lions were able to advance both runners into scoring position after a Anderson sacrifice bunt. Dylan Mass would have a great plate appearance working the count to draw a walk to load the bases for Saint Leo. Bobby Sparling would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in the first run of the game.
 
The Lions bats would come alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. Saint Leo would hit four consecutive singles to load the bases and put pressure on the Wildcats. Mass would hit a two run infield single to give the Green & Gold a 4-0 lead heading into the fifth.
 
After the Lions loaded bases in the 7th. The Lions extended their lead when Brennan Reback would score off a wild pitch.
 
Thanks to aggressive running on the basepath the Lions were able to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three to lead, 8-2
 
Jackson took complete advantage of his opportunity to be featured in the midweek lineup going 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. Scott went 3-for-5 with a triple.
 
Kaelan Racculia earned the win on the mound for the Lions this evening improving to 1-1 on the season. Racculia tossed five frames striking out three Wildcats in his fifth appearance of the season.
 
The Lions will return to Thomas B. Southard for weekend series against Kentucky Wesleyan University, Thursday, March 9th. First pitch is scheduled for 6 P.M.
 
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