Esau, Cherry help lead Saint Leo University to win

Okotoks Dawgs Academy alum Brent Esau (Meadow Lake, Sask.) belted a three-run home run for the Saint Leo University Lions in their 8-3 win over the Alderson Broaddus Battlers on Monday. Photo: Saint Leo University Athletics

March 9, 2020

Official Saint Leo University Athletics News Release

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team took an 8-3 victory Monday afternoon over the visiting Alderson Broaddus Battlers to complete the four-game series sweep.

Senior Amir Wright led the squad with three hits in the victory while senior Brett Esau (Meadow Lake, Sask.) drove in a team-high three runs, all coming on a home run in the fifth.

The victory moves the Lions' record to 7-15 while the Battlers fell to 1-12.

Wright, who was 3-for-5 at the plate, finished with two runs scored, an RBI and a home run. Esau went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Redshirt sophomore transfer Steven Kokoski picked up his first career hit in the Green and Gold as he drove a two-run home run down the left field line to break open the scoring in the fourth. Redshirt sophomore Paul Coumoulos also drove in a pair of runs with a single in the fifth.

The only other Lions to earn a hit in the victory were junior Sam Crail and freshman Yazael Nunez who each went 1-for-4 at the plate. Crail also swiped a pair of stolen bases.

On the mound, graduate transfer Graeme Cherry (Millarville, Alta.) earned the start and went four innings of shutout ball. He struck out four and scattered four hits before leaving the contest. Redshirt sophomore transfer Hunter Keim took over and went the next two innings while striking out a pair and not allowing a hit. Keim took home the victory, the first of his Saint Leo career. Freshman Andrew Corbin also made his Saint Leo debut as he closed out the game going the final 1 2/3 innings. He earned two Ks and did not allow a hit.

Saint Leo did most of its damage in the fourth and fifth innings thanks to a two-run home run by Kokoski in the fourth and a two-RBI single by Coumoulos and a three-run home run by Esau in the fifth.

The Battlers battled back in the eighth with three runs but that would be it as Wright added an insurance home run in the bottom of the eighth to close out the scoring.

The Lions will return to action this Friday and Saturday as they host Sunshine State Conference foe Barry for a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. Friday evening.