SAINT LEO, Fla. – Junior infielder Briana Neal made the quite the statement on Friday evening in Saint Leo softball's 5-4 series opening victory over the Embry-Riddle Eagles. The junior belted her second homer of the season, a solo shot to straightaway center field that proved to be the game-winning run. Tierney Hocquard earned her ninth win of the season as the Lions improved to 25-9 overall and 10-6 in the conference. The Eagles fall to 18-13 overall and 6-10 in SSC action.
 
Tiereny Hocquard went the distance allowing four runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out two to improve to 9-3 on the season. Briana Neal and Lindsey Corazzini each recorded a multi-hit night. Hope Epps give the home team the lead in the fifth inning as she tallied an RBI in the win. Embry-Riddle found ways to score throughout the game, but Saint Leo always had an answer as it responded with runs in the bottom half of the inning.  

Briana Neal's solo shot to straight away centerfield in the sixth inning was the difference as @SaintLeoSB improved to 25-9 overall!
#GOLIONS ?? | #SAINTLEO1PRIDE ?? pic.twitter.com/9sVbZ6oPjQ

— Saint Leo Athletics (@SaintLeoLions) March 29, 2025

 

SAINT LEO 5, EMBRY-RIDDLE 4

• Saint Leo threatened putting runners on second and third in the bottom of the first with two outs but the visitors induced a line drive off the bat of Haleigh Thomas to end the threat.  
• Hocquard worked around a lead off base hit in the top of the second to keep the visitors off the board early.
• Embry-Riddle loaded the bases quickly as the first three batters of the top of the third inning reached before an out was made. The Eagles scored their first run of the game on an unfortunate fielding error by Hocquard that allowed the runner to cross the plate. Hoqucard dialed in on the next two batters getting both Eagles hitters chasing.
• The home team responded quickly as Neal and Alexis Barber opened the inning with back-to-back hits. Maddie Antioco moved the runners up on a sac bunt putting a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. Saint Leo capitalized on a throwing error by the Eagles third baseman to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead.
• Embry-Riddle took the lead back from Saint Leo in the top of the fifth inning with a two-RBI base hit to right field scored a pair.
• Just as it had all night, Saint Leo responded in the bottom half of the inning. Lindsay Corazzini tripled home the tying run to make it a 3-3 game. Hope Epps put the Lions back on top as she had an infield RBI single to score Corazzini from third.
• The visitors tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning with a two out RBI infield hit.
• After a groundout opened the bottom of the sixth, Neal give the Lions their biggest hit of the night with a rocket shot over the centerfield fence for what proved to be the game-winning run.
• Hocquard allowed a one-out walk in the top of the seventh but thanks to some great defense the game ended with a double play. The Eagles right fielder came to the plate with one out and laced a line drive right at Corazzini at third who fired it over to Waller at first to complete the double play as Waller made the stretch to record the game-ending out.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Embry-Riddle return to complete its three-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for noon.