On a near perfect day for softball the Lee Lady Flames completed a doubleheader sweep of West Alabama in Gulf South Conference (GSC) action from Butler Field Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Flames brought the sticks to the ballpark as they defeated the Tigers 10-5 and 6-5 while combining for 21 hits on the day.
Coach Emily Russell's club will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon as the Lady Flames and Tigers complete the three-game set with a single game beginning at 2 p.m.
LEE 10, UWA 5
The Lady Flames doubled up West Alabama 10-5 in Saturday's opening game.
After the Tigers recorded a single run in the first the Lee Lady Flames responded with three of their own to take an early 3-1 advantage. The Lady Flames would extend the lead to 5-1 thanks to UWA error and a RBI single by Lizzie Stevens in the second inning. Dominique Hannah's solo homer in the fourth inning gave Lee a five-run cushion.
The Tigers would climb back in the game in the fifth as they scored three runs. Taylor Miller drew a bases loaded walk while Miriah Chavez singled in a run. The final run of the inning would score via a Lee miscue.
The Lady Flames would respond with a five-run fifth to put the game away. Holley Gray delivered a sacrifice fly to start the scoring. Lexie Dean followed with a single to score Amber Broome. Dominique Hannah then drew a bases loaded walk before Ana Coscorrosa singled to left to make it 10-4.
Rebecca Schick hit a solo home run to center in the seventh for the Tigers to finish the scoring.
Alli Hall (1-1) was tagged with the loss as she recorded just one out in the first inning before giving up three runs on three hits. Jessica Brock worked 5 2/3 innings in relief for the Tigers. She gave up seven runs but only four were earned. Brock walked four and struck out five.
Angie Hughes worked six innings for the win giving up just four hits and three earned runs. She struck out four but did surrender seven walks. Hannah Hight worked the final inning for Lee. The senior gave up a hit a run in her first action of the season.
LEE 6, UWA 5
Lee rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the nightcap to post a 6-5 victory and move above the .500 mark at 12-11 on the season. The Lady Flames are 6-5 in conference play.
Lee opened things up in the fifth inning as they erased a 4-1 Tigers' advantage by scoring five runs with two outs. Amanda Lynn singled to right to start the scoring. Lexie Dean followed with a two-run single of her own before Cosocorrosa ripped a two-run double to right center to complete the rally.
Hughes made the lead stick working the final four innings in relief for her seventh victory of the season. The sophomore gave up just three this and one run. Annabeth Pruett started in the circle for Lee. The freshman worked three-plus innings giving up four runs on four hits. She struck out two and walked a batter.
Coscorrosa led the Lee attack with three hits and two RBI. Lynn, Dean and Dominique Hannah would also add two hits in the contest.
Whitney Brown gave the Tigers an early lead as she belted a two-run homer to left in the top of the first. Rebecca Schick would add a run scoring double in the fourth while Chavez gave UWA a 4-1 advantage on a sacrifice fly. Lydia North would hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 6-5 but the Tigers would not draw any closer.
Sarah Ray-Averett (8-4) was tagged with the loss for the Alabama-club. She worked 3 2/3 innings giving up nine hits and six runs. She walked three and struck out three. Taylor Tucker came on and was solid in relief. Tucker worked the a scoreless 2 1/3 innings yielding just a pair of hits.