Saint Leo University Athletics

SAINT LEO, Fla. – For the first time in nearly a decade the Saint Leo University softball team took to the field as champions of the Sunshine State Conference on Saturday morning. Having clinched the regular season title and the SSC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the next item up on the top-ranked Lions to-do list for 2026 was an unbeaten home record. Two runs in the first inning was all the home team needed to take a lead en route to a 10-2 six-inning victory over the Lynn Fighting Knights. With the win on Saturday, Saint Leo improved to 42-2-1 overall and 27-0 in SSC play, Lynn falls to 12-31 overall and 5-22 in conference action.

With Saturday being the final home game of the regular season, the Lions honored its senior class of 2026. Following the game, Briana Neal, Grace Dunsworth, Hailey Beuerlein, Haleigh Thomas, Amel Salman, and Tierney Hocquard with a celebration on the field in front of family and friends.

Gabi Olavarria and Alexis Barber had a multi-hit game. Neal and Marissa Martinez both record a pair of RBI. In the circle, Alex Wright improved to 10-0 on the season as she went four innings allowing just a single run on four hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Tierney Hocquard closed out the game pitching the final two innings allowing a single run on three hits and two strikeouts.  
 
#1 SAINT LEO 10, LYNN 2 (6 inns.)

• Saint Leo wasted no time taking control of the series finale, Izzy LaRoche drove in Neal on a RBI double to right center. Maddie Antioco walked and the visitors attempted to pick off Sydney Cline at third base but the errant throw by the catcher allowed her to score the second run of the inning for the Lions.
• The Fighting Knights scored a run in the top of the third to cut the lead to one. An inning later, a pair of RBI singles from Alexis Barber and Abigail Hynes put the Lions up 4-1.
• Saint Leo doubled its score total with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. A throwing error by the shortstop allowed Maddie Antioco to score. Neal followed with a two-RBI double. Shyanne Waller found herself on second base on a base hit to center scoring Neal for the 8-1 lead.
• Lynn added another run in the top of the sixth. However the home team responded with two runs in the bottom of half of the sixth to clinch the run rule victory. Marissa Martinez stroked a base hit to center scoring Antioco and Amel Salman.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 37 game win streak
37 consecutive wins
27-0 SSC record
253 runs scored by Saint Leo
20 Home runs
.360 team batting average
.178 opponent batting average
250 strikeouts by Saint Leo pitching
1.41 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 clsoes out the regular season at Eckerd next weekend. First pitch of game one in the series on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.