SAINT LEO,  Fla. – Saturday was a program record setting day for #6 Saint Leo University softball. The Lions ran their win streak to 25 games in a row. Abigail Hynes hit a walk-off base hit for the record setting win. Saint Leo fended off a late threat by the Panthers in the second game of the doubleheader to complete the sweep. The Lions improve to 30-2-1 overall and 15-0 in SSC play, while Florida Tech falls to 24-9-1 overall and 10-4 in SSC action.

Izzy LaRoche led the offensive effort with a perfect 3-for-3 day, while Briana Neal added two hits at the top of the lineup. Nia DeBenedittis delivered the biggest swing of the game, driving in two runs. In the circle, Haleigh Thomas struck out eight over five innings, allowing just one earned run, before Alex Wright closed the door with two scoreless innings to earn the win.

Alexis Barber led the offense with a 2-for-3 game two, including a double and an RBI, while Sydney Cline added two hits. Abigail Hynes also drove in a run as Saint Leo produced four runs on six hits. In the circle, Hocquard earned the win in the circle, while Alex Wright secured the save with 2.2 innings of relief to close it out.

FINAL (Game 1): #6 SAINT LEO 3, FLORIDA TECH 2
Saint Leo threatened early as Briana Neal opened the bottom of the first with a single, but Florida Tech erased the opportunity with a caught stealing and kept the game scoreless through three innings.
Florida Tech broke through in the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI from Miranda Schwartz.

The Lions responded in the fourth. Alexis Barber reached and later scored, while Abigail Hynes delivered an RBI single to tie the game. Moments later, Nia DeBenedittis came through with a clutch two-out hit, bringing in two runs to give Saint Leo a 2-1 advantage.

Florida Tech answered in the sixth, capitalizing on an opportunity to even the score at 2-2.

Saint Leo had the final say in the seventh. After working a runner aboard, the Lions pushed across the game-winning run to secure the 3-2 victory and complete the comeback.

FINAL (Game 2): #6 SAINT LEO 4, FLORIDA TECH 3
Saint Leo wasted no time setting the tone, manufacturing a run in the first inning after Briana Neal reached and came around to score for an early 1-0 lead.

The Lions added on in the third as Alexis Barber delivered an RBI hit to make it 2-0, continuing to apply pressure with timely offense.

Florida Tech answered in the middle innings, scoring once in the fourth and again in the fifth to even the game at 2-2.

Saint Leo responded immediately. The Lions regained control with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, taking advantage of Panthers miscues to move back in front, 4-2.

The Panthers made one final push in the seventh, trimming the deficit to 4-3, but Alex Wright entered in relief and shut the door. Wright recorded the final outs to secure the save and clinch the doubleheader sweep for the Lions.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 25 game win streak
25consecutive wins
188 runs scored by Saint Leo
18 Home runs
.380 team batting average
.176 opponent batting average
166 strikeouts by Saint Leo pitching
1.72 team ERA
12 complete games
12 wins by Tierney Hocquard leads the team in 2026
36 career wins for Hocquard leads the team in active pitchers

UP NEXT
Saint Leo hits the road for an SSC series in Daytona Beach at Embry-Riddle next week.