Saint Leo University Athletics

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The magic number entering May was two for the top-ranked Saint Leo softball team to clinch its fourth Sunshine State Conference title. Needing either two wins or a combination of a win and a Tampa loss, the Lions saw everything fall into place on May 1. Behind a complete-game shutout from senior Tierney Hocquard, the magic number dropped to one. Just ten minutes later, Tampa handed Eckerd a loss, officially clinching the SSC title for the Green & Gold. Saint Leo completed a doubleheader sweep of Lynn on Friday, securing the program's fifth 40-plus win season and the third in the last four years. The Lions extended their win streak to 36 games and now sit at 41-2-1 overall and a perfect 26-0 in SSC play.

With a loss to CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Christian saw its 47-game win streak come to an end on Friday, thus giving the Lions the title of the longest active win streak.  

In game one, Izzy LaRoche led the way going 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBI. Alexis Barber added a double and scored a run, while Briana Neal reached base twice and scored. Saint Leo drew three walks and did not strike out. In the circle, Tierney Hocquard was dominant, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits, struck out 10, and walked two across seven innings.
 
At the plate, Briana Neal led the way, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Sydney Cline and Izzy LaRoche each added two hits, while Abigail Hynes drove in a run. Saint Leo drew four walks and executed well situationally with three sacrifice flies. In the circle, Haleigh Thomas was dominant, tossing a complete game. She allowed just four hits and one unearned run while striking out nine and not issuing a walk.
 
GAME 1: #1 SAINT LEO 4, LYNN 0
Saint Leo wasted no time jumping in front, scoring two runs in the opening inning. After Neal reached and Barber delivered a double, LaRoche came through with a two-RBI hit to give the Lions an early 2-0 lead.
From there, Hocquard took control. The right-hander kept Lynn off balance all afternoon, striking out multiple batters in key spots and allowing just two baserunners past second base.
The Lions added insurance in the sixth inning. Barber reached again and came around to score, and LaRoche capped the scoring with another RBI knock to extend the lead to 4-0.
Hocquard closed the door in the seventh, securing the shutout and completing the Lions' dominant performance.
 
GAME 2: #1 SAINT LEO 5, LYNN 1
Lynn jumped out to an early lead plating a run in the second inning.
Saint Leo threatened in both the bottom of the second and third innings. However, the Lions ran into a few outs and Lynn made some key defensive plays to keep the Lions off the board.
Saint Leo broke through in the fourth in a big way with four runs to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 advantage. Marissa Martinez poked a shot through the left side of the infield to Maddie Antioco and Izzy LaRoche. Briana Neal struck a double to the left centerfield wall to clear the bases scoring Martinez and Nia DeBenedittis.
Saint Leo threatened with two on and no outs in the bottom of the fifth but visitors managed to strand the runners.
Abigail Hynes drove in the fifth run for the Lions with a base hit to right center scoring Briana Neal for a 5-1 lead.
Thomas was dominant in the circle for Saint Leo. The senior allowed just on run on four hits while striking out nine.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 36 game win streak
36 consecutive wins
26-0 SSC record
243 runs scored by Saint Leo
20 Home runs
.357 team batting average
.174 opponent batting average
245 strikeouts by Saint Leo pitching
1.39 team ERA
20 complete games
18 wins by Tierney Hocquard leads the team in 2026
43 career wins for Hocquard leads the team in active pitchers
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo and Lynn return to Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium on Saturday. The series finale is set for 11 a.m. Saint Leo will honor its Senior Class of 2026 following the game.