COLUMBUS, Ga. – Saint Leo used a hit by pitch and a walk in the bottom of the sixth to put the game-winning run on base and clinched the victory on a single to right field to take the 2-1 victory over the UNCP softball team in the first game of the day at the PBC/SSC Softball Challenge on Sunday.

Senior Holly Berry notched two hits and an RBI, while juniors Shelby Holland registered two hits and Taylor Cloninger collected one run and one hit as the Braves (1-2) out-hit Saint Leo (2-1) by one. Kylee Hardesty posted one hit and one RBI, while Chelsey Steedley and Victoria Obermeier scored the Lions' two runs.

In the circle, Senior Starr Gilley (1-1) threw the first five innings and allowed three hits, two earned runs, five walks and struck four in the process. At the start of the sixth inning, junior Natalie Klemann relieved Gilley and gave up on hit, but struck out one in the four batters faced. Saint Leo's Megan Still (1-0) pitched the complete game with eight strike outs, five hits and one earned run.

UNCP capitalized on its first at-bat with Taylor Cloninger singling up the middle, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaytee Wilson and crossed home plate on Berry's single through the middle. The Lady Braves held the lead for the next six innings until Saint Leo utilized free bases to put up two quick runs and end the game with the win.