SAINT LEO, Fla- The Saint Leo baseball team opened their four-game series against Kentucky Wesleyan, Friday evening. The Lions defeated the Panthers, 16-3.
 
With the win the Lions advance to 8-9.
 
Zach Benson finished the evening 5-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs, and double.
 
Jestin Jones got the start on the mound for the Lions. Jones threw five frames, striking out six of 19 batters faced. Jones earned the win on the hill for the Green & Gold, improving to 1-1 on the year.
 
The Lions got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Mikey Scott led off the inning with a single to left field. Scott would find himself in scoring position after stealing second. Mike Wyman would move Scott over to third after grounding out to first. During Eddie Niemann III at bat, Scott would slide in at home after a passed ball to give the Green & Gold a 1-0 lead. Saint Leo would find themselves taking advantage of a couple of wild pitches and walks to extend their lead to 4-0.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan would score their first run of the game against Jestin Jones in the top of the 5^th inning when Braxton French would hit a solo homer to right field.
 
Benson would connect on a fastball to drive a two run double to left field to extend the Lions lead in the bottom of the fifth. Yazael Nunez would drive in the seventh run of the game with an RBI single through the right side.
 
The Lions would score in their third straight inning in the bottom of the sixth, adding five to their lead.
 
Saint Leo was able to extend their lead to 16-3 in the eighth inning.
 
The Lions will return to Thomas B. Southard for a doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan University, Friday, March 10th. First pitch is scheduled for 1 P.M.
 
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