SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University softball team has put together a historic 2026 season to date. On Tuesday, April 14, the Lions finally reached the top of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) rankings. The top team listed in the latest NFCA/GoRout coaches' poll is Saint Leo. For the first time in program history, Saint Leo softball is ranked #1 having received 15 of 16 first place votes. Currently on a 31-game win streak, the Lions are 36-2-1 overall and off to the best start in conference play at 21-0.

Saint Leo has delivered a historic 2026 campaign, combining elite production at the plate, dominant pitching, and steady defense to emerge as one of the top teams in the nation. Sitting at 36-2-1 overall and a perfect 21-0 in Sunshine State Conference play, the Lions have surged behind a program-record 31-game winning streak while outscoring opponents 254-72 and holding teams to a .186 batting average. As a team, Saint Leo is hitting .353 with a .504 slugging percentage, showcasing one of the most balanced and dangerous lineups in the country.

Leading that offensive charge is first-year transfer Izzy LaRoche, who has been one of the most complete hitters in the lineup, batting .423 with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs, and a team-best .721 slugging percentage. Fellow newcomer and freshman Abigail Hynes has made an immediate impact in her debut season, hitting .413 with 41 RBI and a .673 slugging percentage, quickly establishing herself as a key middle-of-the-order presence. Briana Neal has set the tone at the top, batting .396 with 45 runs scored, 44 hits, and an impressive .510 on-base percentage while going 20-for-21 on stolen bases. Her ability to spark the offense has been evident all season, as she has even come back around to bat in the second inning in 16 games, highlighting Saint Leo's offensive depth and efficiency.

Sydney Cline has added power and production with 35 RBI and 11 doubles, while Nia DeBenedittis has quietly been a steady, everyday presence in the lineup, appearing in 37 games with 32 starts and delivering a .341 batting average with 24 RBI. Whether setting the table or coming through in key moments, DeBenedittis has provided consistent at-bats and reliable production, helping stabilize the lineup from top to bottom. Together, the offense has produced up and down the order, making it difficult for opponents to find any relief.

In the circle, the Lions have been just as dominant. Tierney Hocquard has led the staff with a 15-1 record and a 1.59 ERA across 101.1 innings, striking out 87 while tossing 12 complete games and five shutouts. Alex Wright has complemented that effort with an 8-0 record and a 1.66 ERA, adding depth and reliability, while Haleigh Thomas has been equally effective at 8-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 74 strikeouts. As a staff, Saint Leo owns the fifth best team ERA in Division II at a 1.82 ERA with 247 strikeouts, consistently limiting scoring opportunities and controlling games.

Defensively, the Lions have backed that pitching with a .973 fielding percentage, highlighted by strong play across the diamond. Hynes (.989), Neal (.951), Cline (.968), and LaRoche (.941) have all been key contributors, helping Saint Leo limit mistakes and convert key outs in critical moments.

With three conference series remaining—at Nova Southeastern, vs. Lynn, and at Eckerd—the Lions are positioned to complete one of the most dominant regular seasons in program history. Their combination of elite offense, dominant pitching, and consistent defense has firmly established Saint Leo as the team to beat in the SSC and a legitimate national championship contender.

Softball is the first top-ranked Saint Leo team since the men's tennis team occupied the top spot in the ITA Rankings for the majority of the 2024 spring season. Saint Leo is the first SSC team to earn the #1 ranking since Tampa earned the distinction a year ago, April 2025.