Kaylie Drew homered and scored two runs in Saturday's game one victory over North Alabama.
photo by Lee Sports Information
FLORENCE, Ala. – Facing the daunting portion of the schedule the Lee softball team went on the road to earn a doubleheader split against No. 9 North Alabama on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Flames (27-14, 15-10) held off a late charging Lions (31-7,16-6) club and used two home runs from junior NiaRaye Cesar to win 8-6 in game one.
The home team bounced back for a 8-0 shutout over the Lady Flames in the night cap.
The two teams will conclude the weekend series on Sunday afternoon in a single game beginning at 2 p.m.
GAME ONE – LU 8, UNA 6
Facing a pitching staff that boasts the lowest team ERA in Division II the Lady Flames roped eight hits and scored eight runs to knock over the Lions in Saturday's opener.
Ceasar led the charge with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in the contest. Lee struck for three runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to help put away the victory.
Kaylie Drew continued her torrid streak at the plate with her team-leading 12th homer in the third inning and a run-scoring single in the fifth inning. The junior slugger finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Lexie Dean and Dominique Hannah set the table with two hits each at the top of the Lady Flames' lineup. Hannah singled in a run in the sixth to cap the Lee scoring and added a triple. Dean scored twice and drove in a run as she finished with a pair of singles. Hitters 2-5 provided all of the offense with all eight hits, eight RBI and scored seven of the eight runs.
Carey Grace Peebles paced the Lions offense as she opened up the scoring with a three-run jack in the second inning. Harlie Barkley added two singles to the five-hit attack.
Leigh Beatenbough started and worked two innings for the Lady Flames allowing three runs and three walks. Veteran righty Angie Hughes pitched the final five innings to earn her 12th win of the year against five defeats. Hughes allowed four hits and six walks but gave up just three unearned runs.
BreeAnna Blevins (12-5) tossed all seven frames for North Alabama. Blevins gave up all eight runs on eight hits. She walked three and struck out six.
GAME TWO – LU 0, UNA 8
Hillary Carpenter tossed six shutout innings and the North Alabama offense pounded out 11 hits and eight runs to win game two, 8-0 over the Lady Flames.
Carpenter (17-2) was masterful allowing just three hits and yielding just one walk while striking out five.
Freshman Brianna Eichbaum (4-2) took the lost allowing all eight runs (six earned) in 5.1 innings of work. Eichbaum allowed 11 hits, three walks and struck out three.
Hollie Gray got the start as the designated player and had two of the three hits for the Lady Flames. Hannah added a double and Rachel Polacek drew a walk to provide the only other offense for the visitors.
Madeline Lee homered, doubled and drove in two to help pace the Lions. Libby Olinger blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning and Peebles closed out the contest with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to secure the run-rule victory. Tittle led the team with three singles in the three at bats.