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.


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