SAINT LEO, Fla. – Flagler College took both ends of a doubleheader, 6-2 and 4-3, to complete a series sweep of Saint Leo University which wrapped up Saturday evening at Thomas B. Southard Stadium.
Flagler improved to 5-1 overall while Saint Leo dropped to 3-4. The Saints are off to their best start since winning the first eight games in 2020. Flagler visits Florida Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Melbourne.
In the opener, the Saints plated four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Flagler strung together three consecutive RBI singles by
Caden Kresak,
Carson Page, and
Payton Palladino. Palladino's single drove in a pair.
That was more than enough for
Cooper Smith (1-0) to earn the win on the mound. He scattered six hits and allowed one run in seven innings. Smith fanned three and retired 10 batters on ground outs as well as another five on flyouts.
Drew Rosenberg closed the final 1.2 innings to pick up the save. His only blemish was a walk.
Blake Pesante tossed one-third of an inning.
Page was a perfect 4-for-4, all singles, and scored a run and he had one run batted in. Palladino finished with two singles and three RBI. Kresak collected two singles, scored two runs, and drove in a run while
AJ Hunerberg singled twice and scored a run.
Aedan Walter (0-1) surrendered six runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings to pick up the loss for Saint Leo.
Thomas DeBrower went 4-for-4 with a double and he scored a run. Adam Berry collected two singles and had one RBI.
In the second game, Flagler scored two runs in the ninth to erase a 3-2 deficit.
Jesse Sullivan belted a lead-off home run to tie the game.
George Gilson followed by drawing a walk and forced Saint Leo to go to its bullpen. Jake Rychter came on to stop the rally but Palladino's successful sacrifice bunt moved Gilson to second. Gilson took third on a groundout and then scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions threatened in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Crivello hit a lead-off triple to right-center.
Clay Callan came on to slam the door shut and he did just that retiring all three batters, including a bunt back to him, to earn the save.
Isaiah Wellman (2-0) tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the win.
Daniel Fischer started while
Keegan Leckband and
Jake Hill also worked in relief.
Sullivan went 3-for-3 with the home run and two doubles.
Dawson Turner (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits in four innings of work.
DeBrower finished with two singles, two RBI, and he scored a run for Saint Leo. Crivello hit a single and the triple while Roberto Odor singled twice.
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