Lee junior Lexie Dean from Ooltewah had eight hits in Saturday's doubleheader sweep.
photo by Lee Sports Information
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Angie Hughes dazzled in the circle as the Lee softball team finished off a doubleheader sweep of Gulf South Conference foe West Florida with a 3-0 shutout in game two on Saturday afternoon.
The victory pushes the Lady Flames to 21-12 and 11-8 in league play.
The Argonauts fall to 10-22 and 5-14 in conference action.
Lee will look for its second GSC sweep of the year as the two clubs wrap up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Game Two – LU 3, UWF 0
Lee scored a pair of runs in the first inning and that proved to be more than enough as Hughes went seven strong innings in the circle to lead the Lady Flames to a 6-0 win over West Florida in the nightcap.
Emily Dagnan and Leigh Beatenbough drew bases-loaded walks in back to back at bats to give Lee an early 2-0 lead. The Lady Flames added a single run in the third frame on as Beatenbough singled to third scoring Kaylie Drew.
Hughes moves to 10-5 on the year after allowing just one hit in seven scoreless innings. The hard throwing righty struck out 10 and allowed seven walks.
Lexie Dean stayed red hot in game two adding three more hits to go along with five in the first game. The junior from Ooltewah finished the day a sensational 8-for-9 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI.
Lee added three insurance runs in the sixth inning. Dean singled through the left side to score Qiley Lewis. Senior Dominique Hannah ripped a triple to right center scoring two to complete the shutout victory.
The Argonauts only hit came from Emily Pettigrew. Jenna Belser and Kaylen Rowell each drew three walks apiece.
West Florida's Rebecca Hein (1-6) was charged with the loss. Hein allowed six runs on nine hits and gave up five walks.
Game One – LU 7, UWF 6
Junior Lexie Dean registered five hits and the Lee softball team rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to top the University of West Florida, 7-6 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Junior catcher Emily Dagnan provided the big blow in the sixth as she roped a two-out, two-run triple to right center to put the Lady Flames on top for good.
Led by Dean eight different players tallied hits and all nine starters reach base safely in the contest. The Lady Flames rallied from a 5-2 deficit scoring two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
NiaRaye Ceasar jump started the 13-hit attack with an RBI single in the second frame for Lee. Ceasar scored two of the seven runs for Lee.
Leigh Beatenbough (8-7) was credited with the victory in the circle for the visitors as she held off a determined West Florida club. The freshman went the full seven innings allowing seven hits and six runs (three earned). She walked three and had three strikeouts.
Kaylen Rowell launched a solo homer in the seventh inning for the Lady Argonauts but Beatenbough slammed the door recording the final two outs to hold on to the victory.
Jenna Belser paced the six-hit attack for West Florida with a pair of singles. Chelsy Krants and Rowell each scored two runs.
Becca Taylor (4-4) was charged with the loss. Taylor yielded seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits in 5.2 innings. She punched out five and allowed three walks. Kalyn Chapman tossed the final 1.1 scoreless innings in relief for the Lady Argonauts.
The game one win allows the Lady Flames to reach the 20-win mark for the 13th straight year under head coach Emily Russell.