SAINT LEO, Fla. - Senior infielder Briana Neal sent the home crowd home happy with a two-run walk-off shot over the left centerfield wall. The home run pushed #21 Saint Leo University Softball past the fourth-ranked University of Tampa Spartans in the Sunshine State Conference opener on Friday night. The Lions improved to 8-2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference action while the Spartans fall to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in SSC play.

Tierney Hoqcuard pitched a complete game for her fourth win of the season allowing a pair of runs on four hits a walk and striking out six.

The Lions strung together 10 hits with Maddie Antioco leading the way with a three-for-three night registering a double and an RBI. Neal went two-for-four at the plate with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Alexis Barber scored the tying run on the homer by Neal as she went two-for-two at the plate with a double. 

#21 SAINT LEO 3, #4 TAMPA 2 
The Spartans got on the board early with a two-out solo shot by their catcher. After the first inning, Hocquard settled in and stranded two hit through the sxith inning. 

The Lions looked to get on the board bottom of the fourth inning. Barber sent a base hit to left field and as she made her way to second trying to draw the throw to allow Antioco to score, the Spartans relay made it in time to nab the sliding Antioco.

Tampa's starter held the Lions off the scoreboard till the bottom of the sixth as Antioco perfectly placed her third hit of the night in side the right field line to score Tegan Larrimore. 

Tampa's Salisbury led off the top of the seventh with a double that snuck past third base down the line to the left field wall. After a pinch hit sac bunt advanced the runner to third, the Spartans regained the lead with a sac fly to centerfield. 

The bottom half of the seventh inning opened the same as the top of the seventh. Barber led off with a double down the left field line. Haleigh Thomas entered the game as a pinch hitter and advanced the runner to third on a sac bunt. Just like the top half of the inning, the third batter (Neal) sent a high fly ball towards centerfield but this time the ball was not catch able. Neal's second home run of the season ended the game in dramatic fashion. 

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.