SAINT LEO, Fla. - A five-run first inning turned out to be more than enough for the Saint Leo as the Lions took a 9-1 win over Eckerd in Friday's series opener.
Saint Leo took advantage of two early errors and plated four runs before Eckerd recorded an out in the bottom of the first.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Saint Leo 9, Eckerd 1 (6 innings)
WP: Avants (4-1)Â Â
LP: Van Gennep (6-12)
Records: Eckerd 11-20 (3-10 SSC); Saint Leo 20-13 (9-7 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- After Eckerd stranded two runners in the top of the first, Saint Leo exploded for five runs in the home half of the inning. Â The first five Lion batters reached base, two by error, and all came around to score.
- Ally Costa led off the top of the second with a triple and, after Olivia Oppeltz drew a walk, crossed home plate on an RBI single by Avery Wakefield.
- SLU added a run in the second on a sacrifice fly and another in the third on an RBI groundout.
- Eckerd, meanwhile, had trouble getting runners aboard against Lion reliever Sadi Avants. Avants retired the first 13 batters she saw before Kassy Torres drew a walk in the sixth.
- Saint Leo finished the run-rule win in the bottom of the sixth with one out on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Emily Pilon.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- After getting her first career RBI on Tuesday, Wakefield drove in another run for the second straight game.
- Six of Saint Leo's 11 hits came from the last four batters in the order.
- Costa's triple was the first of her career.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1:00 PM.
