LAKELAND, Fla. – Saint Leo University softball opened the month of April on a high note with a 6-1 victory at Florida Southern on Friday evening. All seven runs of the game came in the fifth inning or later as both teams were held scoreless through the fourth inning. Junior pitcher Tierney Hocquard was impressive in the circle earning her 10th win of the season as she pitched six innings of one run softball while striking out six. The Lions improved to 28-9 overall and 13-6 in SSC play while the Moccasins drop to 7-30 overall and 2-17 in conference action.  
 
SAINT LEO 6, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 1
After four scoreless innings, the Lions broke through in the fifth. Shyanne Waller started the rally with a single, and Alexis Barber delivered a clutch RBI base hit up the middle to score pinch runner Caroline Barwick. A passed ball allowed Barwick to score, and an RBI single by Maddie Antioco capped the three-run frame.
 
Saint Leo added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. Waller drove in another run with a groundout in the sixth, and Barber continued her hot night at the plate with an RBI single in the seventh. Hannah Thomas followed with a run-scoring hit of her own to make it 6-1.
 
Barber led the Lions with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Antioco added an RBI and two walks, while Hailey Epps went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

T. Hocquard (10-3) earned the win in the circle, allowing one run on six hits over six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Chloe Hocquard tossed a scoreless seventh in relief to secure the victory.
 
Florida Southern got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI base hit by its five-hole hitter.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Florida Southern return to complete its three-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. in Lakeland.