ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Saint Leo University softball team split its doubleheader at Eckerd College on Saturday. The Lions fell 3-2 in the first game and dominated in the second game behind a 7-0 shutout performance by
Kayla Betts. Saint Leo improves to 36-15 on the season and 20-7 in Sunshine State Conference play.
The Lions tallied 16 hits across the two games with
Briana Neal,
Alyssa Perez, and
Shyanne Waller all recording a team-high three hits each. Waller scored three of the Lions nine runs and
Madyson Coe and Perez combined for four of Saint Leo's seven RBI.
Kayla Betts picked up her seventh win of the season with a three-hit seven inning shutout while striking out five in the second game. Betts pitched her fourth complete game and her third shutout on the season.
ECKERD 3, SAINT LEO 2
- The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Coe's RBI base hit up the middle to score Waller from second.
- Eckerd tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out RBI double down the left field line.
- The home team took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a wild pitch.
- Saint Leo returned the favor in the top of the sixth tying the game at 2-2 as Hope Epps scored on wild pitch.
- The Lions were an out away from sending the game to extra innings before the Tritons rallied with an infield hit and a stolen base put the winning run at second base. The Eckerd shortstop ended the game with an RBI base hit to right center scoring the runner from second.
SAINT LEO 7, ECKERD 0
- Just as it had in the previous two games of the series, Saint Leo jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Shyanne Waller scored what turned out to be the winning run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Hailey Beuerlein in the top of the first.
- Alexis Barber opened the top of the third with a lead off double and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Waller. Alyssa Perez gave the Lions a 2-0 lead on an infield single to the pitcher scoring Barber from third and advanced to second on the play. Perez scored the third run for the Lions on a one-out RBI double by Madyson Coe.
- Saint Leo added three more runs to its lead in the top of the fourth. Briana Neal opened the fourth with a lead off double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sydney Cline. Caroline Barwick put runners on the corners as she got on via an infield hit to third base. Barwick stole second and thanks to an errant throw by the Tritons catcher, Neal put the Lions up 4-0. Back-to-back two-out hits by Waller and Perez put the Lions up by a touchdown.
- Barwick scored the seventh run for the Lions in the top of the sixth on a ground out off the bat of Barber.
- Eckerd looked to get on the board in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out base hit to right center, but the runner was stranded as Betts got the final out on a line out to left field.
- Betts scattered a trio of hits across seven innings while striking out five Tritons to earn her seventh win of the season.
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns home to host the Tampa Spartans in the final regular season series. The Lions and the Spartans will play three games at University Softball Stadium next weekend. Friday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday's game one is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch and the Lions will honor its four seniors following the final game of the series.