ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The fifteenth-ranked Saint Leo University Softball team swept its non-conference doubleheader against the Flagler Saints in St. Augustine on Wednesday afternoon. The Lions hit four homeruns to nearly double their season total, while a combined nine batters recorded multi-hit games across the doubleheader. With the sweep, Saint Leo improves to 34-10 on the season. While Flagler falls to 28-16 overall.
 
Game one went ten innings as the home team erased a 6-0 deficit before the Lions put two runs across the plate in the top of the 10th. Junior Briana Neal led the way with three hits, a homerun and an RBI. Following close behind was sophomore Alexis Barber, who had two hits, a homerun and two RBI, and junior Lindsay Corazzini, who also had two hits, a homerun and two RBI. The Lions sent three pitchers into the circle. Making her 12th start this season, junior Tierney Hocquard pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out four Saints along the way. In the sixth inning, freshman Chloe Hocquard entered in relief, pitching five scoreless innings while striking out 10 batters to earn her eighth win.
 
Saint Leo held off a final inning rally by the home team to hold on for a 9-7 win to complete the sweep. Corazzini led the way in the second game with three hits, a homerun, and two RBI. Barber recorded two hits and drove in two runs, while sophomore Maddie Antioco delivered two hits and two RBI as well. The Lions sent three pitchers to the circle, with two lengthy outings. T. Hocquard pitched over three innings in two stints, allowing three earned runs while striking out two batters to earn the save. C. Hocquard went over three innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out five to complete the 2-0 day and improve to 9-0 on the season.
 
Game 1: #15 Saint Leo 8, Flagler 6 (10 innings)

• Corazzini hit a leadoff homerun in the second inning to give the Lions the lead.
• The lead was doubled in the third inning after freshman Marissa Martinez delivered an RBI single on a bunt.
• Neal and Barber hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to give Saint Leo a four-run lead.
• In the fifth inning, sophomore Nia DeBenedittis extended the Lion's lead to six with a two-run single.
• A lengthy fifth inning saw Flagler rally to tie the game at six before an out was recorded.
• C. Hocquard entered in relief in the sixth inning, holding the Saints scoreless throughout the later innings.
• The Lions were poised to take the lead in the top of the eighth, but left the bases loaded.
• C. Hocquard and the Saint Leo defense got out of a jam in the ninth inning to keep the game tied at six.
• As the tenth inning began, Barber doubled to right field to score the automatic runner, Neal.
• The Lions took an 8-6 lead after sophomore Sydney Cline singled home Barber.
• C. Hocquard struck out the side in the bottom of the tenth to close out the victory.

 Game 2: #15 Saint Leo 9, Flagler 7

• Saint Leo took the lead in the second inning after DeBenedittis singled home Corazzini.
• Flagler answered quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, and forcing the Lions to their bullpen.
• Barber singled home senior Shyanne Waller before Antioco hit a two-run double to give Saint Leo a one-run lead.
• Cline then brought Antioco home with a double, and Corazzini sent Cline home with a single to give the Lions a three-run lead.
• The Saints bounced back, scoring two in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to one.
• Neal and Barber each singled home a run in the sixth inning to restore the Lion's three-run lead.
• Corazzini led off the seventh inning with her second home run of the doubleheader to give Saint Leo a four-run advantage.
• Saint Leo held off a furious charge by Flagler in the final frame. The lead was cut in half, but T. Hocquard re-entered in relief and secured the win.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the field on Friday, April 25, as it travels to Boca Raton to face the Lynn Fighting Knights in a three-game SSC series. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.