By: William Burns, Sports Editor
The Lions played a hard-fought game against the Blazers of Valdosta State on Tuesday evening, the 18th of February. The Blazers came into the game with a 4-3 record, to square off at the Lion’s home stadium. The Lions are still looking to get the gears turning as they entered the game with a 1-7 record.
Redshirt Junior Jeremy Peel got the start for Saint Leo and pitched a great game. He went 7.1 innings and game up only two runs. Earlier this season he pitched 1.2 innings and gave up five hits for six runs, so this was definitely a bounce back performance for him. Peel struck out three and didn’t walk any batters.
The Lions struck first with Senior Jake Vander Wal picking up the first RBI of the game with a groundout. He was followed by Brett Esau, who knocked one over the fence to give the Lions an early 2-0 lead after the first inning. The Lions extended the lead in the fourth inning as redshirt junior James McCallum notched his first home run in a Saint Leo uniform, making the score 3-0.
The Blazers slowly began their comeback in the sixth with a solo home run, and again in the eighth with another one to set up their comeback in the ninth. In the top of the ninth, the first Blazer batter was struck out, but the following batter walked, then stole second. The next better hit a slow grounder in the hole, but a throwing error by the Lions second baseman allowed the runner to score with a man on second and one out. The score was tied 3-3.
The Lions, looking to stay in the game, changed pitchers. The next Blazer batter walked, but then a strikeout made it two outs with the bases loaded. The next Blazer batter got a ball through the left side of the infield and one runner scored, but outfielder Sam Crail delivered an excellent throw to the plate and got the second runner out, allowing only one run to score to end the inning.
The Lions were not done yet, and still had the bottom of the ninth inning to either tie the game or walk it off. The Blazers pitcher, former Tampa Spartan, was too much for the Lions to handle, and struck out the side to end the game and secure the epic comeback win.
The Lions dropped to 1-8 on the season, with their next series this weekend, February 21-22 at home vs. Embry-Riddle.
