Skylar Hein was 3-for-6 with a two-run home run to lead the St. Lawrence University softball team to a split on Thursday afternoon in Clermont, Florida.

The rookie from Woodinville, Washington, was 2-for-3 in a 4-2 win over Buffalo State in the opener and hit a drive over the left field wall in a 5-4 loss to Juniata.

The Saints took a 4-1 lead over the Bengals in the opener with four runs in the fourth innings on RBI doubles by Taylor Armijo and Mylea Mann and RBI singles by Emma Reakes and Deanna Sullivan.

Nicole Adams hit a triple to right field and scored on a double by Abijah Adams to give the Bengals a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Abijah Adams scored cut the Saints lead to 4-2 on an RBI groundout by Melissa Woods in the sixth inning. After the out, the Bengals were still threatening with a runner on third with two outs, but St. Lawrence pitcher Caroline Young retired the side when Danielle Szymkowiak hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Young to second baseman Elle Gray, who picked up the ball and flipped it to first to end the inning.

Young pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to improve to 5-2 on the year. The sophomore from Goldsboro, North Carolina, allowed two runs on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Armijo went 2-for-3 with two doubles to lead the Saints' offense. Meghan Hyatt was 2-for-3, and Hein and Caitlin Syphurs both hit doubles for St. Lawrence.

Abijah Adams was 3-for-3 with a double, and Kaelee Lynch was 2-for-3 for Buffalo State, which fell to 0-3 on the year. Marissa Hayes took the loss, allowing all four runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings.

The Saints jumped out to a 4-0 lead in a back-and-forth battle in the second game. Reakes hit an RBI single to center in the second, and the Saints added three more runs in the third. In the third inning, Hyatt scored from third on a wild pitch and Hein plated two runs with a monster shot over the left field fence for her first career home run.

The Eagles cut the lead to two runs in the bottom half of the frame with two runs scoring on a dropped fly ball in the outfield. They threatened in the bottom of the fifth loading the bases with no outs, but Saints' pitcher Madison Mitchell worked her way out of the jam, retiring three straight batters to preserve the 4-2 lead.

Jennifer Carthew drew a bases loaded walk to cut the Saints' lead to one in the home half of the sixth, and Alyssa Shedlock hit a hard ground ball to that took a bad hop and skipped into the outfield to give Juniata a 5-4 lead.

The Saints loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning when Reakes reached on a single to center, Mann reached on a bunt when Reakes beat the throw to second and Angelina Carney walked, but were unable to tie the game. The Eagles got the first out on a force out at home plate, and shortstop Kerigan Ammerman made a spectacular play to end the game, running back and to her right on a shallow fly ball by Elle Gray to catch the ball after she initially juggled it, then throwing out the baserunner at third to complete a double play to end the game.

Hein was 2-for-3 with the two-run home run to lead the St. Lawrence offense, while Reakes was also 2-for-3. Alicia Regnault was 2-for-3 to lead Juniata, which improved to 4-3 on the year.

Anna Baran got the win, allowing just two hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings, coming on in relief after Hein's home run. Mitchell took the loss in a complete-game effort, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and five walks with three strikeouts.

The Saints, now 6-4 on the season, wrap up their Spring Break trip to Florida on Friday, facing Grinnell and D'Youville.