SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Flagler College softball team lost two games at the Saint Leo Tournament Saturday night at the University Softball Field. The Saints lost the opener to Saint Leo University, 11-3 in five innings, and then lost to Lincoln Memorial University, 9-4.

Flagler drops to 4-9 on the season. Saint Leo improved to 11-2 while Lincoln Memorial moved to 6-4.

In the opener, the host Lions wasted little time scoring five runs in the first inning. The first four batters reached safely, including an RBI-triple by Michelle George to put Saint Leo on top, 1-0. Later in the inning, Brittany Creamer hit an RBI-double to left-center and Angela Kafalas followed with a two-run home run to give the Lions the 5-0 lead.

The Saints struck for three in the third when Kayla Fuller and Mackenzie Conley hit back-to-back home runs. Fuller's was a two-run shot to left and Conley's was a solo shot to center to cut the deficit in half, 6-3.

The Lions pushed across four more runs in the bottom of the third. George led the way with a two-run double in the frame.

Saint Leo ended the game in the fifth when McKenzie Burns, who got on base with a one-out single, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error and then scored on another throwing error.

Samantha Tyler (4-0) went the distance and scattered six hits, allowed three earned runs, walked two and fanned five.

The first three hitters for the Lions went 8-for-10 with six runs scored and six runs batted in. George was a home run short of the cycle, scored three runs and drove in three more. Adriana Sanders singled twice, hit a triple and knocked two runs.  

Tinsley Smith (1-3) started and went two-thirds of an inning. She allowed four hits and five runs.

Fuller went 2-for-3 with the home run and two RBI. Maddy Murphy added a double.

In the second game, the Saints jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Malloree Escue socked a two-run home run to left-center in the second inning to put Flagler on top.

However, the Railsplitters answered with a four-run top of the third. Meredith Johnson hit a two-run double to center field and later scored on Amanda Snow's two-run infield single to shortstop.

Flagler got those runs back in the home half of the third. Fuller belted a two-run home run to left field to knot the game at 4-all.

But Emilee Solomon broke the tie in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI-single up the middle. The Railsplitters added another run on a passed ball.

Lincoln Memorial tacked on three more runs for insurance in the fifth.

Briana Taylor (3-2) picked up the win in relief. She tossed 4.1 scoreless innings and scattered seven hits.

Solomon paced the 14-hit attack by LMU with three singles of her own and collected three RBI. Snow also collected three singles and knocked in two runs. Jennifer Moose singled three times, scored three runs and drove in another.

Katelynn Smith (2-4) tossed 4.2 innings, allowed 11 hits, eight earned runs, walked three and fanned four. Haleigh Corbally tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowed three hits and struck out three batters.

Lauren Roudabush singled three times and scored a run for the Saints. Conley, Escue and Kelli Parker each collected two hits.

Up next for Flagler is next weekend's Mid-South Classic at Spartanburg, South Carolina. The first opponent for the Saints is the Railsplitters. The two teams meet again on Friday (Feb. 27) at 4 p.m.