After sweeping a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader from visiting Tennessee Wesleyan College, the Lee University softball team will take an impressive 8-2 record into its Gulf South Conference opening games against Union University on Friday and Saturday.
The three-game GSC series was originally scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday, but because of predicted sub-freezing weather for the Cleveland area, Friday afternoon's single game will begin at 1 p.m. and the doubleheader will also start at 1 p.m.
on Saturday.
After scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim the opening-game victory on Wednesday, 4-3, the Lady Flames put five runs on the board in the first inning of the second game and coasted to a 15-9 victory.
GAME 1 - LEE 4, TENNESSEE WESLEYAN 3
Senior Dominique Hannah drove home two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Lee a 4-3 comeback victory over Tennessee Wesleyan College on a sunny Wednesday afternoon at Butler Field.
The Lady Flames (8-2) trailed the Lady Bulldogs 3-2 heading into the final inning. Brooke Bailey began the rally with a walk. Lindsey Watson came on to pinch run and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Polacek.
TWC quickly made a pitching change, calling on Alexis Adams to replace Brittany Kilduff, who had hurled 6 1/3 innings of six-hit ball and worked herself out of several jams.
Adams walked Amanda Lynn and Lexie Dean to load the bases and bring Hannah to the dish. The veteran outfielder drilled a two-strike double to left-center field that plated Lynn with the tying run and Watson with the winning score.
Lee pitcher Leigh Beatenbough entered the circle for all seven innings and twirled a five hitter to record her third win of the season against one loss. The freshman right-hander fanned six and walked two.
The three runs Beatenbough allowed in the first inning were all unearned. Wesleyan took advantage of two Lee fielding errors in the first, allowing Kayla Stevens, Stephanie Bridges and Mackenzie Hopkins to score. Rachel Percy collected an RBI single in the three-run frame.
The Lady Flames cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the first. Lynn walked, stole second and scored on Dean's single. In the fourth Lee made it a 3-2 game. Emily Dagnan ripped a line-drive double to left and scored when Beatenbough helped her own cause with a one-base knock.
Lynn and Hannah paced Lee's seven-hit attack with two hits apiece. Bailey added a double. For TWC Percy had a pair of singles.
GAME 2 - LEE 15, TENNESSEE WESLEYAN 9
The Lady Flames jumped out to a 9-2 lead after three innings and then turned back a five-run rally by the Lady Bulldogs in the fifth inning in scoring their eighth victory of the year.
Angie Hughes picked up the pitching win and improved her record to 5-1 on the year. Hughes worked six complete innings, allowing four hits, four earned runs, striking out four and walking four. Brianna Eichbaum pitched the final inning. She surrendered five earned runs on four hits, striking out one and walking two.
Hannah, Niaraye Ceasar and Kaylie Drew paced Lee's 19-hit attack with three hits apiece. Dean, Sarah Merced and Beatenbough chipped in with two hits apiece. Ten different Lee players collected hits. Dean, Merced, Hannah, Ceasar and Drew pounded out doubles.
Ceasar and Beatenbough each drove in three runs, while Dean, Dagnan, who homered, and Drew picked up two RBI apiece.
TWC's eight-hit attack was paced by Alyssa King who had a single and a home run. Gleason McCaslin banged out a double and a single and posted two RBI. Percy followed with a home run and a pair of RBI. Bridges also stroked a two-run homer.
Rachel Mathews was the starting and losing Lady Bulldog pitcher. In four innings, she allowed 10 hits and six earned runs. Adams came in for the final two innings and surrendered nine hits and five earned runs.