SAINT LEO, Fla. – Playing as a ranked team for the first time this season, #20 Saint Leo University Softball earned a decisive victory over #15 Nova Southeastern Sharks on Friday evening at the Mary Cannon Cabot Softball Stadium. Tierney Hocquard pitched her ninth complete game and her fourth shutout of the season as Saint Leo improved to 31-9 on the season and 16-6 in conference play. With the loss, Nova Southeastern falls to 30-11 overall and 13-6 in SSC action.
 
Junior pitcher Tierney Hocquard shined in the circle on Friday evening pitching a complete game, five-hit, shutout to earn win #11 on the season. The Lions offense was led by junior Briana Neal as she produced another multi-hit game while driving in a run. Sophomore Sydney Cline and freshman Marissa Martinez collected RBI in the win.
 
#20 Saint Leo 3, #15 Nova Southeastern 0

• Hocquard struck out four batters in the first three innings, while her defense rallied behind her to leave four Sharks stranded on the bases to maintain a scoreless game.
• On the heels of yet another double from Maddie Antioco, Cline doubled to left center field to open the scoring with two outs in the third inning.
• Cline came around the score as Martinez reached base on a throwing error, giving the Lions a two-run lead after three innings of play.
• Neal added an extra insurance run to the Saint Leo lead with an RBI single scoring pinch runner Tegan Larrimore.
• Hocquard finished off another dominant performance in the circle by retiring the final six batters she faced.
• Five strikeouts on the night for Hocquard, marked the ninth such occasion of five or more swings and misses this season.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern return to the Mary Cannon Cabot Softball Stadium tomorrow, Saturday, April 12, to complete its SSC series with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.