SAINT LEO, Fla. – The second-ranked Saint Leo University softball team showed why it has won more than 30 games in a row with a come-from-behind win in game one on Saturday. Alex Wright pitched a complete game shutout in game two to secure the sweep of the Florida Southern College Moccasins. The Lions extended their win streak to 31 games and improved to 36-2-1 and remained perfect in SSC play at 21-0 extending the best start to conference play in program history. Florida Southern falls to 8-25 overall and 2-15 in SSC action.

Saint Leo opened the day with a strong all-around performance, using timely hitting and clean defense to secure the first win of the doubleheader. The Lions created early scoring opportunities with aggressive base running and capitalized with key extra-base hits, while the pitching staff controlled the pace and limited Florida Southern's chances. Despite a few threats from the Mocs, Saint Leo consistently worked out of jams and maintained control to take the opener.

In game two, Saint Leo rode a complete-game shutout from Alex Wright and a clutch third inning at the plate to finish off the sweep. Briana Neal set the tone with a single and stolen base before Abigail Hynes delivered a two-out RBI triple, and Sydney Cline followed with an RBI single to extend the lead. The Lions added an insurance run in the sixth behind Izzy LaRoche and Nia DeBenedittis, while Wright scattered three hits and shut down Florida Southern down the stretch to seal the victory.

GAME 1: #2 SAINT LEO 4, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3
Florida Southern struck first, manufacturing a run in the opening inning as Gigi Polanco singled, stole second, and eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice paired with a throwing error for a 1-0 lead. Saint Leo threatened in the bottom half with a lead-off walk, but a double play quickly erased the opportunity. The Mocs added to their lead in the second, using a lead-off single, a sacrifice bunt, and another Saint Leo error to push across a second run and go up 2-0.

After a quiet stretch, Saint Leo broke through in the third. Nia DeBenedittis sparked the offense with a lead-off triple, and Ayani Hernandez followed with a bunt single to bring her home, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Both sides traded scoreless innings through the fourth and fifth, with limited chances and runners left stranded.

Florida Southern extended its lead in the sixth, capitalizing on a lead-off single, a sacrifice bunt, and a pinch-hit knock before a wild pitch allowed a run to score, making it 3-1. That momentum was short-lived, however, as Saint Leo responded with a decisive rally in the bottom half. A walk and single set the stage before Sydney Cline drove in a run with a base hit. Izzy LaRoche followed with a ground out that plated the tying run, and moments later, aggressive base running forced a throwing error that allowed the go-ahead run to score, giving the Lions a 4-3 advantage.

With the lead in hand, Tierney Hocquard shut the door in the seventh, striking out the side to secure the comeback victory.

GAME 2: #2 SAINT LEO 3, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0
Florida Southern managed an early base runner in the top of the first when Gigi Polanco reached on an error, but Alex Wright and the Lions defense quickly erased the threat with a runner-left-early call and back-to-back ground outs. Saint Leo threatened in the bottom half after Briana Neal walked, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Barber, but the Mocs cut down Neal at the plate and escaped the inning scoreless.
 
Alex Wright worked around a lead-off walk in the second, stranding a runner at third with three straight ground-ball outs. Saint Leo nearly broke through in the bottom of the inning when Maddie Antioco tripled to left center, but Florida Southern kept the game scoreless by cutting her down at home on a fielder's choice and getting out of the inning.
 
The Lions broke through in the third. After Wright retired the Mocs in order, he helped himself by starting the bottom half before Briana Neal singled and stole second. Barber moved her to third with a ground out, then Abigail Hynes delivered a two-out RBI triple to right field to plate Neal for the first run. Sydney Cline followed with a single through the right side to score Hynes and give Saint Leo a 2-0 lead.
 
Wright stayed in control from there, retiring Florida Southern in order in the fourth and striking out Kate Mikle looking to end the inning. Saint Leo put two runners on in the bottom of the fourth after a bunt single by Nia DeBenedittis and a walk from Marissa Martinez, but the Mocs escaped without damage.
 
Florida Southern's best chance came in the fifth when Keira Morris and pinch hitter Emily Borresen recorded back-to-back singles with two outs, but Wright got out of the jam with a ground out to third. Saint Leo answered in the sixth by adding an insurance run. Izzy LaRoche doubled down the left-field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Antioco, and scored on an RBI ground out from DeBenedittis for a 3-0 advantage. Martinez later tripled in the inning, but the Lions left two more runners aboard.
 
In the seventh, Wright closed the door. He retired Izzy Barrios on a ground out, got Morris to fly out to center, and finished the shutout with a strikeout of Kara Zweig. Saint Leo completed the doubleheader sweep behind Wright's complete-game three-hit shutout.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 31 game win streak
31 consecutive wins
21-0 SSC record
215 runs scored by Saint Leo
18 Home runs
.364 team batting average
.176 opponent batting average
200 strikeouts by Saint Leo pitching
1.52 team ERA
17 complete games
15 wins by Tierney Hocquard leads the team in 2026
39 career wins for Hocquard leads the team in active pitchers
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo hits the road to head to Nova Southeastern next weekend, April 17-18.

 
For all the latest information about Saint Leo softball, follow @SaintLeoSB on Twitter and Instagram.
Download the Saint Leo Athletics App for iOS and Android to follow all Lions sports and get live stats and schedules.
 
- SaintLeoLions.com -