DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Friday's doubleheader between the sixth-ranked Saint Leo University softball team and Embry-Riddle featured some dominant pitching on both sides. Saint Leo's Haleigh Thomas and Alex Wright pitched complete games to extend the Lions' win streak to 28 games. Saint Leo improved to 33-2-1 overall and remain perfect in SSC play at 18-0 for the best start to conference play. Embry-Riddle falls to 16-18 overall and 2-13 in SSC action.

Saint Leo's bats were quiet in the first game as Alexis Barber went 2-for-3 at the plate for the only hits by visitors. Barber and Tegan Larrimore scored the two runs needed for the victory. IN the circle, Haleigh Thomas went the distance allowing a single run on four hits as she improved to 8-1 on the season. Thomas struck out seven Eagles to bring her season total to 70.  

The second games also featured another pitching duel as Alex Wright took a no hitter into the sixth inning. Wright improved to 7-0 in the circle allowing just one run on three hits while striking out six and walking one. The offense managed just three hits through the first five innings before exploding for seven runs in the final two innings.

GAME 1: #6 SAINT LEO 2, EMBRY-RIDDLE 1
The two teams combined for just two hits through the first three innings.

Thomas kept the Eagles off the board in the bottom of the third, stranding a two-out triple as struck out her fifth batter.

Sydney Cline few out to center in the top of the fourth and thanks to a throwing error Alexis Barber made her way around the bases to score the first run of the game.

Embry-Riddle tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double down the right field line.

Saint Leo responded in the fifth inning as it took the lead without registering a hit. Larrimore pinch ran for Maddie Antioco and slowly made her way around the bases. A sac bunt off the bat of Nia DeBenedittis moved her into scoring position and went to third on a ground out by Marissa Martinez. Ayani Hernandez was hit by a pitch putting runners on the corners. Thanks to a wild pitch Larrimore raced home for what proved to be the game winner.

Thomas stranded a pair of runners in the fifth and seventh innings to secure the 27th win in a row.

GAME 2: #6 SAINT LEO 7, EMBRY-RIDDLE 1
Just as the first two games had gone, the final game of the series saw no runs scored in first four and a half innings before eight runs crossed the plate in the final two and half innings. 

Alex Wright took a no hitter into the sixth inning but a lead off single up the middle ended her bid for a no hitter.

Embry-Riddle struck first in the fifth inning as a lead off single set things in motion for the home team. After a ground out put the runner in scoring position a base hit plated the games first run.

The Green & Gold wasted no time tying the game at 1-1 as Sydney Cline hit her first of two doubles in the game to score Shyanne Waller from first. Izzy LaRoche drove in pinch runner Sommer Spears with an RBI triple to right to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Before the next pitch in the game was thrown, LaRoche stole home to put Sanit Leo up by a pair of runs.

Wright pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth to preserve the lead.

The Lions added four more runs in the top of the seventh to increase the lead to 7-1. Four runs scored on three hits and took advantage of a throwing error and a wild pitch.

Wright once again threw a 1-2-3 inning to close out the victory to push the win streak to 28 games.  


INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 28 game win streak
28 consecutive wins
18-0 SSC record
198 runs scored by Saint Leo
18 Home runs
.363 team batting average
.173 opponent batting average
184 strikeouts by Saint Leo pitching
1.60 team ERA
15 complete games
13 wins by Tierney Hocquard leads the team in 2026
37 career wins for Hocquard leads the team in active pitchers
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium next week to host the Florida Southern College Moccasins. First pitch of the series opener on Friday night is scheduled for 6 p.m.