SAINT LEO, Fla. – The 21st-ranked Saint Leo University softball completed its first series sweep of the Tampa Spartans for the first time since 2016. The Lions clinched the series win with a walk off base hit off the bat of Maddie Antioco before a five-run third inning and stellar pitching from Haleigh Thomas gave the Green and Gold a sweep of #4 Tampa. Saint Leo improves to 10-2-1 overall and opens SSC play 3-0, while the Spartans fall to 4-5 overall and 0-3 in SSC play.

Game one saw the Spartans up Lions starting pitcher Alex Wright for three runs in the second inning as wright allowed three earned runs on one hit a walk, two hit by pitches and a strikeout. Both Marissa Martinez and Abigail Hynes went three-for-five at the plate with Martinez getting credit for three of Saint Leo's five RBI. Bella DeJulio followed Wright in the circle, allowing no runs on three hits a walk and a stolen base in an inning and a third of work. Chloe Hocquard pitched the bulk of the innings for the Lions allowing a single run on three hits, and pair of strikeouts. The younger Hocquard gave way to the elder sister as, Tierney Hoqcuard pitched a clean 1.1 innings of work, retiring all four batters she faced.
 
In game two, Saint Leo followed incredible pitching by Haleigh Thomas to lead Saint Leo to its 10th win of the season. Maddie Antioco and Alexis Barber did the most damage to Tampa, combining for five of 12 hits.

#21 SAINT LEO 3, #4 TAMPA 2 (9 inns.)
Just like Friday, the Spartans opened the scoring, this time putting up three runs in the second inning. Tampa scored three runs on just two hits quickly as the first four batters reached base safely forcing an early change in the circle for the home team.

Saint Leo pitchers settled in holding Tampa off the board for four innings. Chloe Hocquard pitched 5.1 innings allowing one run on three hits, three walks while striking out five.

Tampa's starting pitcher took a perfect game into the fourth inning before Marissa Martinez laced a one-out base hit to left field.

The Lions turned the game around in the bottom of the fifth inning plating three runs. With the bases loaded, Briana Neal hit a sac fly to left field that was deep enough to allow Nia DeBenedittis to score the first run for the Lions. This forced the Spartans to make a pitching change. The new pitcher was greeted with a two-RBI base hit up the middle off the bat of Martinez to tie the game at 3-3.

After a run in the top of the seventh gave the visitors a 4-3 lead, the Lions were down to their final at-bat. Tegan Larrimore scored the tying run on a fielder's choice off the bat of Martinez.

In the ninth inning, Martinez scored the winning run as Maddie Antioco sent a ball down the first base line to end the game. As Martinez crossed the plate the Lions secured a series win over the Spartans for the first time since 2016.
 
#21 SAINT LEO 9, #4 TAMPA 1 (6 inns.)
In the bottom of the first the Lions, who had won both the first two games of the series, found themselves with a lead for the first time in the series. Sydney Cline sent a base hit up the middle to score Briana Neal for her 99th career hit.

Putting up four runs in the bottom of the third inning all but sealed the deal on a series sweep of the fourth-ranked Spartans. Alexis Barber, Hannah Durante, and Haleigh Thomas all recorded an RBI to put the Lions up 5-0 through three innings.

The Spartans catcher belted her second home run of the series to end Haleigh Thomas' bid at a shutout.

After a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Lions got the job done in the bottom of the sixth. Three straight hits plated the three runs needed to end the game early. Antioco singled, Barber doubled and Cat Durden ended the game on a bases loaded infield hit to score Barber.

In the circle, senior Haleigh Thomas allowed one run on four hits while striking out nine batters for her first win of the season.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Tampa return to Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. doubleheader to close out the series.