Lions Rally Late to Defeat Tars

WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 22, 2025) - The Saint Leo Lions (4-8) followed the script from yesterday's conference opener with a late inning rally to defeat the Rollins Tars (8-4) on Saturday. Five runs in the eighth gave the Lions the lead, and they held on to win 6-3.
 
AJ Seymour was brilliant on the mound for the Tars, delivering six innings of work. Saint Leo managed just one run on two hits in Seymour's second start of the season. He struck out a a pair as well in the first quality start of his career. Today's outing was the longest of Seymour's young pitching career after converting from the middle infield last season.
 
It was a 1-1 ballgame when the sophomore exited after six, but Jeslyn Whitehead broke the tie in the bottom half of the frame. After Jimmy Thies singled to lead off the inning, he was moved to second on a sac bunt from Michael Furry and to third on a groundout from Joey Rubin. Whitehead brought him in by legging out an infield hit to make the score 2-1.

The Tars would remain in the lead until the eighth, when the Lions rallied. After a single and an error, one swing of the bat changed the complexion of the whole game when Lions' left fielder Ryan Robinson homered. The three-run shot gave the Lions a 4-2 lead, and they would tack on two more before the damage was done.
 
A leadoff double by the hot swinging Thies in the bottom of the eighth inning signaled that the Tars would not go away, however. Thies' double was his third hit of the ballgame, and made it his third game in the last five with at least three knocks. Rubin brought Thies in with a one-out double to cut into the lead for his second RBI of the game. Rubin now has two hits in each game of the series. After a single from Whitehead and a walk loaded the bases with one out, Tyler Mecchella put out the fire by retiring the next to Tars hitters. 

Jackson Edelman sat the Lions down in order to keep the Tars within striking distance, but a double play killed any momentum Rollins had in the bottom of the ninth.

Rollins outhit the Lions 8-5, but were done in by costly errors and free passes from the pitching staff. Rubin, Whitehead, and Thies combined for seven of the eight hits. 
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow for the rubber match of the three-game set. First pitch will be at 12:00 pm as the Tars seek to start conference play with a series win. Catch the action live from Alfond Stadium or find it on the live stream at RollinsSports.com.