SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior pitcher Haleigh Thomas pitched another gem for the Saint Leo University softball team on Saturday afternoon at Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium as the Lions split its Saturday doubleheader against West Alabama. The Green & Gold held on for a 2-0 win in the opening game before dropping the second game, 5-1. Saint Leo moves to 5-3 on the season as West Alabama is now 5-4 overall.

Reigning SSC Player of the Week, junior pitcher Haleigh Thomas went the distance for the second time in as many games this weekend earning her third win of the season. Thomas pitched another complete game for the Lions scattering just three hits while striking out four and walking one over seven scoreless innings pitched. Thomas improves to 3-1 on the season with a 0.75 ERA and 31 strikeouts.  

On the day, Sydney Cline led the Lions with four hits with an RBI. Briana Neal went three-for-six at the plate with two doubles and a triple and drew a pair of walks while scoring two of the Lions three runs on Saturday. Freshman Marissa Martinez also had a multi-hit day as she went two-for-four with a double and an RBI.

Freshman Bella DeJulio made her second start of the season and allowed just a single hit over five scoreless innings before allowing a pair of runs in the sixth inning. She ended the day tossing six innings allowing a pair of runs on three hits while striking out three and walking four. Cline went two-for-three with an RBI in the game two loss.

GAME 1: SAINT LEO 2, WEST ALABAMA 0
Thanks to seven scoreless innings by Thomas in the circle, the Lions needed just a run in the third and fifth innings to take the opening game 2-0.
Madison Antioco's RBI base hit in the third inning gave the Lions the lone run they needed to earn the opening game victory.
Marissa Martinez sent an RBI base hit up the middle in the fifth inning to score Thomas for the 2-0 advantage.
The Tigers threatened in the sixth inning to get on the board putting runners on second and third with two outs but Thomas induced the line out to second to keep her shut out intact.

GAME 2: WEST ALABAMA 5, SAINT LEO 1
West Alabama opened the top of the first drawing a pair of walks but DeJulio was able to strand the runners.
The Lions offense went right to work as Neal drew the lead off walk and immediately stole second. Cline followed with a base hit up the middle to drive in Neal for the early 1-0 lead.
Both teams went three up, three down in the second and third innings before a two-out double by the visitors in the fourth inning was the first base runner in three innings.
Saint Leo looked to tack on some runs in the bottom of the fifth as Lindsay Corazzini led off with a triple to right center. The Lions got runners on second and third with one out but failed to advance the runners as the Tigers stranded a pair of runners.
West Alabama got on the board for the first time on the day in the top of the sixth inning with a one out double to left field that turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 advantage for the visitors.
Saint Leo once again threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Neal led off with a double down the left field line and Cline followed with an infield bunt that put runners on the corners with no outs. Corazzini drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Antioco put the ball in play and looked to get a big hit potentially driving in a pair of runs but unfortunately for the Lions, Corazzini was hit by the ball ending the threat and the sixth inning.
West Alabama tacked on a three more runs in the top of the seventh as three straight batters collected an RBI, sac fly, triple to right center, and a base hit to centerfield scored three straight runs.
In the bottom of the seventh, Marissa Martinez gave the Lions a bit of hope with a two-out double but was stranded as the Tigers got a strikeout to end the game.  

UP NEXT
Saint Leo closes out its weekend doubleheaders with a pair of games against Valdosta State on Sunday. First pitch of game one at Mary Cannon Cabot Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.