Elle Gray and Skylar Hein hit home runs in a win in the first game, and Taylor Armijo had two hits in both games to lead the St. Lawrence University softball team to a split on opening day of the 2019 season in Clermont, Florida, defeating Juniata 4-2 before falling to Finlandia 3-2.

Armijo was 4-for-6 with a double and three stolen bases, while Gray went 3-for-7 with a home run and a double. Caroline Young handled the bulk of the pitching duties, allowing three runs on nine hits with an intentional walk and four strikeouts in 10.1 innings.

St. Lawrence 4, Juniata 2

Gray got the Saints on the board in her first at bat of the season, sending a home run to right center from the No. 2 spot in the order to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. St. Lawrence added three more runs in the third inning, with Angelina Carney hitting an RBI single to right and Hein lofting a deep drive over the fence in straightaway center.

The Eagles' Ashley Clark hit a two-run home run to left center in the sixth inning to trim the Saints' lead to two, but Young shut down Juniata for the rest of the game, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts in a complete game victory.

Erin Pfeffer allowed eight hits and struck out 11 in a complete game effort for the Eagles.

Gray also hit a double to go 2-for-4. Armijo was 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, and Carney was 2-for-4 for the Saints.

Abby Ebright went 3-for-3 for Juniata.

Records: St. Lawrence (1-0); Juniata (3-6).

Finlandia 3, St. Lawrence 2

Kassandra Avila hit an RBI double and allowed two runs in six innings to lead the Lions to a 3-2 win in the Saints' second game of the day.

Finlandia took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Denia Bent scored all the way from first after a sacrifice bunt by Avila, with Bent charging for third on the play and scoring after an errant throw from first went into the outfield.

The Saints tied the score in the bottom half of the frame, with Armijo scoring on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Carney.

The Lions took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by Rheanna Bain in the third, then increased their advantage to two runs on Avila's RBI double in the fifth.

Armijo cut the lead to one, scoring from third on a double steal attempt. Gray was caught stealing at second, but Armijo cruised home for her second run of the game.

Young got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning to keep the lead at one, and second baseman McKailey Lyndaker made a diving catch on an infield pop fly to end the seventh. Lyndaker walked to start the bottom of the seventh and advanced to second on a passed ball, but the Saints were unable to plate a run in their last at bat.

Armijo was 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base to lead the Saints, while Sofia Adams hit a double in the sixth. Bain was 2-for-4 for Finlandia.

Young started and finished the game for the Saints, allowing one run on four hits with an intentional walk in 3.1 innings. Gabby Slater allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 3.2 innings of work in her first collegiate appearance.

Avila allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and four walks for the Lions. Bent got the final three outs to earn a save.

Records: St. Lawrence (1-1); Finlandia (2-14)

Up Next: vs. Trinity/vs. SUNY Cobleskill; Sunday, March 17, 11:15 a.m./3:45 a.m.