GULF SHORES, Ala. – Saint Leo University softball closed out the 2026 Gulf Shores Invitational with a pair of wins to close out the opening weekend. Saint Leo's dominating pitching by Juli Stachowicz and Tierney Hocquard helped the Lions improve to 3-1 on the young season. A two-RBI double in the first game off the bat of Maddie Antioco proved to be the difference in a 4-3 win over Delta Stata. Freshman Abigail Hynes used a four RBI game to lead Saint Leo to a 10-0 5-inning victory over Union.

Stachowicz pitched 5.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits while striking out six and walking three. Alex Wright sealed the win over Delta State as she pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless softball while allowing a pair of hits and striking out three. Saint Leo's offense combined for seven runs on 10 hits. Alexis Barber and Sydney Cline both had a multi-hit game. Cline and Antioco recorded a pair of RBI each. Briana Neal scored a three of Saint Leo's 7 runs.

Hocquard went the distance again as she extended her scoreless innings streak to 12 innings to begin the season. On Sunday, she stranded three hits over five innings while striking out a pair and walking none against Union. The Lions offense exploded for a season best 10 run outing highlighted by a four-RBI game from Hynes and a solo shot in the second inning by Hailey Beuerlein.

#20 SAINT LEO 7, DELTA STATE 3

• The Lions got on the board early and often with one run in the first and second, and a pair of runs in the third inning. Sydney Cline opened the scoring with a one-out RBI groundout to score Neal.
• Izzy LaRoche led off the bottom of the second with a double and made her way around the bases on back-to-back groundouts to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
• Saint Leo doubled its lead as Maddie Antioco laced a double to score Alexis Barber and Briana Neal.
• Delta State capitalized on a leadoff triple and a two-out hit by pitch in the top of the fourth to cut the Lions lead in half on an RBI double.
• After an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning made it a one-run game, the Lions added three runs in the bottom of the sixth. RBI base hits by Marissa Martinez and Cline put the Green & Gold back up by four.
• Juli Stachowicz pitched 4.2 scoreless innings before allowing an RBI double in the fourth inning. Alex Wright came on in relief in the sixth inning and finished out the game with three strikeouts.  

#20 SAINT LEO 10, UNION 0 (5 inns.)

• Saint Leo scored at least a run in all five innings against the Union Bulldogs. Briana Neal scored on a groundout in the first inning. Hailey Beuerlein belted the sixth homerun of her career to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
• Hynes had an infield single with two on that scored both runs as a throwing error by the second baseman allowed two runs to score. Adriana Przespoleski added a third run in the inning for the Lions with an RBI double to center field.
• Barber made it a 6-0 game with an RBI single to center field that scored Martinez. With the base loaded Hynes once again came in clutch for the Saint Leo with a two-RBI base hit to left that scored Cat Durden and Barber.
• Ayani Hernandez added some insurance runs for the Lions with a two-RBI double in the top of the fifth inning scoring Amel Salman and Kayla Riley.
• Tierney Hocquard once again was lights out in the circle for the Lions going the distance and facing just three batters over the minimum. She scattered a trio of hits while striking out two across five innings. Hocquard extended her scoreless innings streak to open the season to 12 innings.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to the Sunshine State to host Mississippi College in its home opener. The Lions and the Choctaws will play a doubleheader on Saturday, February 7 beginning at 11 a.m. at Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium.