SAINT LEO, Fla. – A pair of seven-inning scoreless pitching outings by a pair of Kayla's led Saint Leo University softball to a doubleheader sweep of the Flagler College Saints on Tuesday evening. The Lions used a single run in the first inning backed by a complete game shutout by senior pitcher Kayla Swinson led Saint Leo a 1-0 game one victory. Saint Leo's graduate pitcher Kayla Betts matched Swinson's outing with her own complete game shutout en route to a 4-0 victory for the sweep and her 50th career win.  

Saint Leo improved to 30-10 on the season with the doubleheader sweep.

In game one, Hailey Beuerlein and Hope Epps combined for four of the Lions six hits. Alexis Barber scored the lone run of the game in the first inning. Swinson picked up her second win of the season as she scattered four hits across seven innings.

In game two, the top of the lineup led the offense as Barber and Shyanne Waller combined to go four-for-six with three runs scored and two RBI. Betts was a very efficient pitcher as she picked up her sixth win of the season scattering four hits across seven scoreless innings while striking out two and walking just three. Only one Saint got past second base as Betts stranded the runner.

SAINT LEO 1, FLAGLER 0

• Swinson pitched a 1-2-3 first inning to open the game.
• Barber got the bottom of the first started with an infield hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Waller. Alyssa Perez sent a ball to the outfield that found some green as Barber raced to third and on the throw Perez made her way to second putting runners on second and third with one out.
• Flagler caught a break as Madyson Coe sent a ground ball to shortstop but as the fielder was attempting to field the ball, it was deemed that Perez interfered and was called out. Barber crossed the plate on the play but unfortunately for the Lions she had to return to third base.
• Beuerlein made sure the Lions scored that run as she sent a base hit to centerfield and allowed Barber to easily score what turned out to be the lone run of the game.
• Saint Leo drew a pair of walks in the bottom of the third looking to add on to their lead. Beuerlein got her second hit of the game as she sent a two-out base hit to right field but a great throw by the right fielder was in time to swipe the tag on a diving Barber to end the inning.
• Swinson needed just four pitches to get through the top of the fourth as she got a pair of line outs and a ground out to put the bats back in the Lions hands.
• With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Saints kept the game going with a double to left field followed by a hit by pitch putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Swinson got to a full count to the fifth batter of the inning. Her pitch hit the batter and looked as though the bases were going to be loaded but the umpire immediately ruled the batter out as she did not attempt to get out of the way. This gave the Lions the final out of the game on a strikeout and they secured the 1-0 victory.
• Swinson relied heavily on her defense as the senior got 12 batters out in the air and six outs on the ground. She also struck out three batters including the final batter of the game. With seven scoreless innings, Swinson lowered her ERA from a 1.09 to a 0.80.

SAINT LEO 4, FLAGLER 0

• Following a one-out base hit by the Saints second batter of the game, Betts fielded back-to-back ground outs to end the threat and strand a runner at second.
• For the second time today, the Lions got out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, as they took advantage of a fielding error by the Saints. Shyanne Waller sent a hard-hit ball to left field that dropped before the fielder's outstretched glove and ricocheted off the glove and towards the fence, allowing Waller to advance to second. Waller tagged up and raced to third on a fly ball to right field.
• With two outs and a runner just 60 feet away, Madyson Coe smashed a ball through the left side of the infield to score Waller and give the Lions an early 1-0 lead.
• After a one-out walk to the Saints DP, the Lions caught a break as Betts started a double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
• The zeros continued to be added to the scoreboard through the fourth inning.
• A lead-off walk and a base hit put a pair of runners on to open the fifth inning. Betts got a fly out to left for the first out of the inning and a fielder's choice got the trail runner out but put runners on the corners with two outs. After a stolen base put both runners in scoring position, the Saint lead-off hitter hit a rocket to the third that Waller caught with ease to end the inning.
• The Lions responded with the eventful top of the fifth with three runs on four hits. Saint Leo strung together four straight one-out hits capped by an RBI double by Perez to give the Lions a 4-0 lead.
• Flagler threatened in the seventh inning just as it had in the opening game. A one-out walk followed by an infield hit put runners on the first and second putting the tying run on deck. Betts did not allow the base runners to faze her as she got an infield fly to short and a strikeout looking to end the game.
• Betts improved to 6-0 on the season and picked up her 50th career win.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo is back on the diamond this weekend as it heads south for a three-game SSC series at Nova Southeastern.