ST. AUGUSTINE – Saint Leo University came to Flagler Field on Sunday (Feb. 1) and swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from Flagler College, 13-3 (in six innings) and 2-1. The games were the season openers for both teams.

Flagler is now 8-4 all-time in season openers. The Saints opened the 2011 season by sweeping the Lions at Flagler Field.

In the opener, Saint Leo took advantage of a Flagler miscue to plate five unearned runs. With two on and two outs in the second, Torrie Weindorf hit a grounder to first base which was fielded by Dreya Monayarji. Weindorf eluded the tag of Monayarji which allowed a run to score. Later in the inning, Michelle George hit a two-run single to give the Lions a 4-0 lead.

That would be all Ashley Ehlers (1-0) would need. She went the distance and scattered four hits, allowed three runs and fanned seven batters.

Tori Thomas singled three times, scored a run and drove in another to lead the Saint Leo offense. Ciera Schumaker singled, doubled, scored a run and knocked in three. Weindorf hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning, an inning the Lions would plate seven runs.
 
Mackenzie Conley nearly accounted for all of the offense for Flagler. She hit a solo home run in the fourth and belted a two-run shot in the sixth inning. Malloree Escue hit two doubles.

Erin Anderson (0-1) was one of three pitchers used by the Saints. She tossed a combined 2.1 innings, allowed four hits and five unearned runs. Anderson was pulled in the second inning, but came on to finish the game in the sixth. Tinsley Smith and Haleigh Corbally also saw time in the circle.   

In game two, Rachael Heath blasted a home run over the right field fence in the fifth inning to give Saint Leo a 2-0 lead. The Lions needed that run as the Saints were able to plate a run in the bottom of the inning.

Kelli Parker led off the inning with a bunt-single. Reagan Oakes tried to move her along with a bunt but the ball bounced up and hit her out of the batter's box. After Parker stole second base, Tori Volz followed with a single to right to score Parker. Volz scampered to second as the throw home went to the backstop.

Alana Tabel (1-0) tossed 5.2 innings for Saint Leo and scattered five hits, allowed one run and struck out five batters. Samantha Tyler tossed the final 1.1 innings to earn the save. She walked two and fanned two.

Summer Pollard singled twice for the Lions.

Katelynn Smith (0-1) tossed a complete game, allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out seven.

Lauren Roudabush, Maddy Murphy, Hannah Hudson, Parker and Volz each collected one base hit.

Flagler returns to action on Friday (Feb. 6) against Barton College at 4 p.m. at Flagler Field.