SAINT LEO, Fla. - Saint Leo softball dropped both games Sunday to Tampa in Sunshine State Conference play, 3-2, 5-3. Following the conclusion of the two games, Saint Leo honored eight seniors in Brigette Soza, Makensey Pankers, Sadi Avants, Deanna Falciglia, Madi Mott, Alexis Miniet, Maddy Lynn, and Kacie Kelly.

Saint Leo and Tampa each scattered 17 hits on the day. Stealing the big spotlight on senior day was Kacie Kelly who went 6-for-7 from the plate for a .857-batting average. She  led the team with four runs scored, two doubles and one walk. Her six hits moved her from third all-time to tied for first with 2011 Saint Leo Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Denyve Duncan (2002-05) at 269 hits¹. Kelly started the day off with a 3-for-3 performance in game one with a pair of doubles and a single before going 3-for-4 in game two. Having set the doubles record earlier this month, Kelly added two more doubles to stand at 55² in her career and picked up her 90th career walk. 

Alexandra Hare put together a 4-for-8 day with one double and a run scored while Alexis Miniet and Alyssa Perez each notched two hits. Alli Jaquith, Emily Pilon, and Madi Mott each tallied a hit Sunday afternoon. 

Morgan Shannon, Kayla Betts, and Madi Mott saw action in the circle for the Green and Gold. Shannon tossed the complete seven inning game one, and Betts and Mott tag teamed game two with 2.2 and 4.1 innings, respectively. Shannon fanned seven batters over her seven innings of work while Mott picked up three and Betts one. 

The Lions (16-11, 13-8 SSC) rallied back in both games but came up just short. In game one, the Lions scored one in the bottom of the first after Kelly doubled to leadoff followed by Hare's one-out double to score Kelly. Tampa tacked on two in the top of the second before a third in the fourth. Saint Leo added a run in the bottom of the seventh but left the tying run stranded on first. 

Tampa (13-4, 11-3 SSC) opened the scoring in game two with a three-spot in the second inning before the Lions cut it to one, 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Kelly singled up the middle to start the inning before Alyssa Perez doubled down the right field line scoring Kelly and Hare. Looking to add another run, Tampa saw a runner at second and first with one out, a routine fly ball to right field, or so the Spartans thought. With Emily Pilon's rocket arm in right field, she caught the fly ball and hosed the runner trying to advance to third for an inning ending double play. Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kelly took her first pitch of the final inning into the center field gap for a one-out single before Emily Pilon roped one to left center to score Kelly on a double. The Lions would strand Brigette Soza at second after a strikeout and groundout ended the game. 

Up Next
Saint Leo will host Nova Southeastern in the home finale Friday, April 30 at 4 p.m. before traveling to Fort Lauderdale to close out regular season play on Sunday, May 2nd.

How to Watch
Lions fans are able to watch the game and follow live stats via the Sunshine State Conference Digital Network where the Green and Gold's home games will be streamed and carry live statistics. For viewing any of the Green and Gold's contests against conference opponents, go to sunshinestateconference.tv or directly to the Lions' portal HERE. For following along with the live stats, fans can view them HERE. For more coverage of the Saint Leo softball program or any of the University's intercollegiate events, go to saintleolions.com/coverage.

Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, limiting the number of fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.

¹ - Kacie Kelly tied Denyve Duncan (2002-05) for the program's lead in career-hits with 269 total; Kelly was third all-time with 263 heading into the series and passed Kelly Bowe 268 (1994-97) in the pursuit
² - Kacie Kelly set the program record with her 51st double on April 15 in the fourth inning of game two against Florida Tech