SAINT LEO, Fla. – The seventh-ranked Saint Leo baseball lost 12-5 versus Nova Southeastern in the final game of the three-game series in Sunshine State Conference (SSC) play on Sunday afternoon at Thomas B. Southard Stadium. The Lions still managed to capture the series win as they won the first two games of the series.

Graduate student Buck Anderson gave Saint Leo a 2-0 lead after launching a two-run homer in the first before the Sharks trimmed it to 2-1 with an RBI-double in the second inning. Graduate student Yazael Nunez extended the Lions margin to 3-1 following an RBI-single to center field, plating senior Mikey Scott. However, Nova Southeastern tallied the next seven runs to claim an 8-3 advantage by the sixth inning.

The Lions plated a pair of runs in the seventh as both Scott and senior Josh Davis recorded RBI-doubles to right center to cut the deficit to 8-5. In the ninth, the Sharks posted a trio of runs to give them a 12-5 cushion heading into the bottom half of the final inning.

On the mound, freshman Russell Sandefer started for the Lions and tallied a strikeout as he allowed five runs (two earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings. In relief, graduate student Luke Pappas and sophomore Brendan Clarke recorded two strikeouts each.

Sophomore Dylan Mass went 3-for-5 at the dish while Scott tallied three hits and one RBI. Anderson posted one hit and two RBI while Davis and Nunez each registered one hit and one RBI.

Saint Leo returns to action on Tuesday, April 7, as it travels to Valdosta State for a non-conference bout, starting at 5 p.m.