SAINT LEO, Fla. – On a day that would go down in the history books as a memorable one, the #11 Saint Leo University softball team completed its sweep over the Eckerd College Tritons at University Softball Stadium Saturday afternoon with 3-2 and 9-2 wins, putting Head Coach Erin Kinberger at 400 career wins.
 
Game One: #11 SLU 3, EC 2
Sophomore outfielder Hope Epps led the way for Saint Leo (39-7, 20-4 SSC) at the dish, hitting a perfect 2-for-2 and stealing one base.
 
Freshman utility Haleigh Thomas (6-1) pitched six full innings, allowing two runs and one hit while fanning five before Junior pitcher Kayla Betts closed the deal in the seventh inning with her fifth save on the 2023 season.
 
The Lions had an opportunity to score the contest's first run in the bottom of the third with runners on first and third with one out before the teams' effort was doused by a line-drive double play.  Eckerd would cash in on the effort in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Saint Leo battled back in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a leadoff double from Freshman infielder Briana Neal before Fifth-year outfielder Bayley Williams' RBI brought in the Sanford, Fla. native for the Lions' first run of the day.  Two at-bats later, Fifth-year infielder Kendyl Crean tied the game on a RBI hit to left center to score in Williams.  Just before the final out was made, Junior infielder Alexandra Hare delivered the game-winning RBI to bring in Sophomore outfielder Caroline Barwick for the go-ahead run 3-2.
 
Eckerd was unable to get another player on base in the final three innings, thus preserving a 3-2 win for the Lions.
 
Game Two: #11 SLU 9, EC 2
The Lions recorded 14 hits while limiting the Tritons to five, as Hare was once again perfect at the plate (4-for-4) that included one RBI, one stolen base, and two runs scored.  Freshman outfielder Bianca Polistina hit 3-of-4 with a pair of RBIs.
 
Junior pitcher Morgan Shannon started the game and pitched through two innings and three batters to allow one hit and two runs with two strikeouts.  Betts (21-2) took over and conceded no runs and four hits with seven strikeouts.
 
Saint Leo built a 4-0 lead in the second inning, fueled by a RBI hit up the middle from Crean.  Following the first run, Epps added another RBI before Hare capitalized on a RBI double.  An Eckerd error allowed the Lions to score the fourth run of the inning.
 
Down by four, the Tritons had Shannon on the ropes, quickly loading the bases before Betts entered the contest to escape a jam.  The Green & Gold managed to do some damage control after Eckerd cut the deficit 4-2.
 
In the sixth, Saint Leo put the series to rest with a five-run inning.  Perez's RBI pushed the Lions' lead out to three (5-2) before Polistina's 2RBI triple and Williams' 2RBI single propelled the Green & Gold to a 9-2 lead.
 
After Betts conceded a leadoff hit in the seventh, the Leesburg, Fla. product finished off the Tritons in 1-2-3 fashion to secure the 9-2 win and the Lions' fourth conference sweep of the season.
 
Saint Leo faces a big weekend ahead, traveling to Tampa, Fla. to face the University of Tampa Spartans in a pivotal three-game series.  First pitch is set for Friday at 6 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.