ST. AUGUSTINE – No. 15 (NFCA Division II Top 25) Saint Leo University edged Flagler College 8-6 in 10 innings and 9-7 to sweep a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Flagler Field.
Saint Leo improved to 34-10 overall while Flagler dropped to 28-16. The Saints head to Americus, Georgia this weekend to face Georgia Southwestern State University in a three-game series that starts Friday at 6 p.m. at the Lady 'Canes Softball Field.
In the opener, the Lions took a commanding 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Brooke Maher got the Saints rally started as she beat out a single to the catcher.
Sydney Stewart followed with a double down the right field line to put runners at second and third. A walk loaded the bases.
Bella DiJulio came on to pitch for Saint Leo and she issued two more walks to give Flagler its first two runs of the game.
Reese Snipes followed with a grand slam down the left field line to tie the game.
That score would remain the same all the way to the 10
th inning. Briana Neal of Saint Leo was placed at second base in the top of the inning. She took third on a wild pitch and then scored on Alexis Barber's double to right field. Barber came around to score on a single up the middle by Sydney Cline.
Chloe Hocquard (8-0), who came in to pitch in relief at the beginning of the sixth inning, got the win after tossing five scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and she allowed just two hits. She struck out the side in the 10
th inning.
Neal went 3-for-6 with a home run, and she scored two runs. Barber went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, scored two runs, and she finished with two runs batted in. Maddie Antioco collected two singles and scored a run. Marissa Martinez had a pair of infield singles, scored a run, and drove in another. Lindsay Corazzini finished 2-for-3 with a home run and scored two runs.
Stephanie Daly (2-5) worked six innings in relief and took the loss. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Stewart collected a pair of doubles and scored a run.
Hannah Smith went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI, and she scored a run.
Kiley McQuillan hit two singles, scored a run, and drove in another.
In game two, Flagler took a 3-1 lead after a three-run third inning thanks to a two-run double to right-center by
Emily Ricci.
But Saint Leo had a five-run fifth inning to take the lead for good. Four consecutive hits scored all the runs. Barber hit an RBI-single to center and Antioco followed with a two-run double to left. Cline traded places with Antioco as she socked a double to left-center. Corazzini plated Cline with a single up the middle, which gave the Lions a 6-3 lead.
Flagler got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but Saint Leo added two more in the sixth. The Lions added a run in the seventh and the Saints struck for two in the bottom of the seventh but could not get any closer.
Chloe Hocquard (9-0) picked up the win in relief as she allowed four runs on four hits with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Tierney Hocquard, who started the game, wound up retiring the last three batters in the seventh to earn the save.
Corazzini was a triple shy of the cycle as she drove in two runs and scored two more. Barber singled twice, had two RBI, and scored a run. Antioco went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and she scored a run. Ayani Hernandez added two singles.
Jordan Sheets (9-4) surrendered six runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings. She struck out four batters. Daly and Hester worked in relief.
Maher collected two singles and scored three runs for the Saints. Ricci went 2-for-3 with a double and had three RBI.
Kiersten James finished with two singles.
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