WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Saint Leo University softball opened the weekend with a 7-5 win at Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday evening. The Lions turned a first inning 3-0 deficit in to a 7-5 win thanks to shut down pitching by junior pitcher Tierney Hocquard and a five-run fifth inning. Saint Leo improved to 9-8 overall and 2-5 in SSC play as the Sailfish are now 7-3 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
 
T. Hocquard entered in relief of Haleigh Thomas and pitched 6.1 innings of two-run softball striking out five while allowing five hits. Thomas got the start and lasted just two-thirds of an inning as the Sailfish got to her early. Thomas faced six batters allowing three runs on four hits while striking out a pair.
 
At the plate, Saint Leo recorded 10 hits off the bat of eight different Lions batters. Briana Neal and Sydney Cline each had a pair of hits as Cline had a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Alexis Barber also crossed the plate twice in the win, including scoring what proved to be the game winning run.

SAINT LEO 7, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 5
The Sailfish got the Lions starting pitching early pushing a trio of runs across the plate in the opening frame. Seven PBA batters came to the plate, opening the bottom of the first with three straight base hits. Thomas got back-to-back strikeouts before an RBI base hit chased her from the circle.
 
The Lions were limited to just three hits across the first four innings managing no more than one hit in an inning. Saint Leo had its first opportunity to score in the top of the fourth with runners on the corners with one out before both runners were caught stealing to end the threat.
 
Saint Leo batted around in the top of the fifth sending ten batters to the plate. The Lions turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 advantage all with two outs. Briana Neal got the Lions on the board with an RBI double to right center to score Hope Epps from first. Shyanne Waller followed with an RBI base hit that scored Neal to cut the home team's lead to one. Following a walk by Barber, Cline tripled to rightfield to drive home both runners and give the Lions a 4-3 lead. Cline scored on the next play as Marissa Martinez reach on a fielding error by the shortstop.
 
PBA made it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center.
 
Madison Antioco put the Lions back up by a pair as she hit a sac fly to left to score Barber. Hailey Beuerlein drove home the final run for Saint Leo of the night on an RBI base hit to center to score Cline for the 7-4 lead.
The Sailfish did not go down quietly as they push home a fifth run of the night on a sac fly before Hocquard ended the game with a strikeout.  

UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Palm Beach Atlantic return to the diamond to complete its SSC series with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for noon from West Palm Beach.