GULF SHORES, Ala. – Saint Leo University softball officially kicked off the 2025 season on the second day of the 2025 Gulf Shores Invitational. The Lions earned a split on the first day to open the season 1-1. Saint Leo dropped its season opener 2-1 to the University of West Florida before turning around and earning a six-inning 10-0 blanking of Union (Tenn.) in the second game.

Junior pitchers Haleigh Thomas and Tiereny Hocquard got the starts as both pitchers went the distance in their respective starts. Thomas pitched seven innings allowing a pair of runs on five hits while striking out nine and stranding a trio of Argos in the loss.

Hocquard also went the distance pitching five innings of shutout ball as she stranded a trio of hits and struck out five Bulldogs in the win.

At the plate, Thomas finished the day going three-for-three with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Briana had two hits with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. Her second hit of the day gave the Lions a huge lead in the second game as she belted her first career grand slam.

WEST FLORIDA 2, SAINT LEO 1

• Junior pitcher Haleigh Thomas got the opening day start in the circle for the Lions. Thomas went the distance allowing a pair of runs on five hits while striking out nine Argos as she suffered the loss.
• West Florida struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Following a lead off double and a sac bunt gave the Argos a prime chance to strike first. That is exactly what they did as an RBI base hit made it a 1-0 advantage to West Florida. The designated visitors plated what proved to be the winning run on an RBI base hit for a 2-0 lead.
• Thomas settled down after the two-run third inning as she limited the opposition to a single base hit over the final four innings.
• Saint Leo threatened in its final at-bat as freshman Lindsay Corazzini found herself on second to open the inning following a two-base error by the shortstop. Thomas got the Lions on the board with an RBI base hit down the left field line to score Corazzini from second. After advancing into scoring position on a sac bunt by Shyanne Waller, a strikeout and a groundout ended the game.

SAINT LEO 10, UNION (TENN.) 0

• Saint Leo took control of the game right from the start as Briana Neal lead off the game with a base hit and stole second. An error by the Bulldogs allowed Neal to race home for the first run of the game. Thomas plated the second run as she was out trying to stretch a double into a triple to end the top of the first.
• Union led off the bottom of the first with a base hit and a sac bunt that moved the runner into scoring position but T. Hocquard was able to strand the runner on a strikeout and groundout.
• Following a pair of quiet frames the Lions used a six run fourth inning to break things open. Six Lions runs were scored on three hits as Briana Neal's grand slam highlighted the six-run frame.
• Freshman Ayani Hernandez recorded her first career RBI to pit the Lions up 10-0 with an RBI double to score Adriana Przespolewski in the top of the fifth.
• The Bulldogs stranded a two-out base runner as the Lions earned win number one in 2025.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns for the final day of the 2025 Gulf Shores Invitational. Saint Leo will take on a pair of top-10 opponents in #4 Lenoir-Rhyne (10:30 a.m.), and #9 Rogers State (12:45 p.m.).