SAINT LEO, Fla. – #20 Saint Leo University softball team clinched the series victory over #15 Nova Southeastern with a 2-1 win over the Sharks in game one on Saturday afternoon at Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium. The Sharks rallied in the seventh inning of game two to salvage a doubleheader split, taking game two 11-4. The Lions earned their sixth consecutive SSC series victory and improved to 32-10 on the season and 17-7 in conference play. With the Saturday split, Nova Southeastern improves to 31-12 overall and 14-7 in the SSC.
 
In the first game, senior Shyanne Waller led the way with two hits. The two Lion's runs were plated by junior Hailey Beuerlein and senior Hope Epps, both of whom each recorded a hit. In the circle, freshman Chloe Hocquard pitched six innings of one-run softball. She struck out 10 batters for the second time this season while taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning. In relief, junior Tierney Hocquard pitched one scoreless inning to open the day with a victory.
 
Junior Lindsay Corazzini and sophomore Maddie Antioco each recorded two hits to lead the offense in game two. Four Lions recorded an RBI, while five others recorded a hit. The Lions sent three pitchers into the circle, with freshman Bella DeJulio striking out five batters and allowing three runs in just over three innings of work.
 
Game 1: #20 Saint Leo 2, #15 Nova Southeastern 1

• In the first inning, Nova Southeastern took the series after a series of walked batters. With the best defense in the SSC behind her, C. Hocquard got out of the inning and left three Sharks runners on base.
• After C. Hocquard settled into the game, the Saint Leo offense got to work. Beuerlein singled up the middle to score Epps, tying the game at one.
• The Lions took the lead after sophomore Maddie Antioco scored as Epps grounded out to shortstop.
• In her final three innings of work, C. Hocquard struck out six batters and kept the Sharks off the scoreboard.
• T. Hocquard pitched the seventh inning in relief and retired all three batters that stepped to the plate.

Game 2: #15 Nova Southeastern 11, #20 Saint Leo 4

• The Sharks started strong in the first inning once again, with the go-ahead run coming home on a walk. With more runs threatening to score, DeJulio entered in relief of junior Hailey Thomas and got out of the inning.
• Waller singled home Corazzini in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at one.
• Nova Southeastern retook the lead with a one-out home run in the third inning before junior Briana Neal scored to tie the game at two.
• The visiting Sharks retook the lead in the fifth inning with a one-out double. They ended the inning with a two-run lead after a sacrifice fly.
• Saint Leo chipped away at the lead as sophomore Sydney Cline singled up the middle to score Antioco.
• In the sixth inning, sophomore Nia DeBeneditis pinch-hit for Beuerlein and delivered the game-tying single.
• The Lions later loaded the bases but were unable to plate any more runs.
• Nova Southeastern took the lead in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run. The visitors then took complete control of the game and scored five more unanswered runs to end the Saint Leo win streak at eight games.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the field on Wednesday, April 16, to take on the Flagler Saints in a non-conference doubleheader in St. Augustine.