TAMPA, Fla. – Saint Leo University softball wrapped up its three-game SSC opening series at the #5 Tampa on Saturday with a doubleheader. The Spartans took both ends of the doubleheader to complete the three-game sweep of the Lions. Saint Leo drops to 7-6 overall and 0-3 in SSC play as the Spartans are now 10-1 overall and 3-0 in conference action.

#5 TAMPA 6, SAINT LEO 4
Bella DiJulio got the start in the opening game going 3.1 innings with six hits, five runs, three earned runs, a strikeout and a hit batter as she suffered the loss. Tiereny Hocquard pitched 2.2 innings in relief allowing an earned run on two hits while striking out four and walking a pair of Spartans.

Saint Leo scored one run in each of the first four innings for its only runs of the game. Dropping the first game 6-4 as the Spartans scored three unanswered runs over the final three frames.

Briana Neal led the Lions with a perfect four-for-four at the plate, scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. Lindsay Corazzini also had a multi-hit game going two-for three as both of her hits drove in runs, one in the first inning for a 1-0 lead and again in the fourth inning to give the Green & Gold a 4-3 advantage.
 
#5 TAMPA 5, SAINT LEO 2
The Lions used a trio of pitchers in the second game. Juli Stachowicz got the start but only lasted an out as she faced six batters allowing a pair of earned runs on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in the loss. Haleigh Thomas pitched 2.1 innings in relief allowing three runs on three hits while striking out one and walking one. A bright spot on a day that saw struggles in the circle for the Lions was freshman Chloe Hocquard who had six strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched scattering a single hit while walking none to keep the Spartans off the board.

Briana Neal, Shyanne Waller, and Maddie Antioco all had a multi-hit game totaling six of the Lions seven hits. Sydney Cline had the other hit for Saint Leo. Neal and Antioco collected an RBI each as Cline and Hope Epps scored the runs for the Lions in the fourth and fifth innings.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns home next weekend to host the Rollins College Tars for a three-game SSC series at the Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium. First pitch on Friday, February 21 is scheduled for 5 p.m.