Lee catcher Emily Dagnan slides into home in Saturday’s finale with Delta State
A comfortable 9-5 lead vanished into a 12-9 loss after Delta State scored seven times in the seventh inning to defeat the Lee softball team on Saturday afternoon at Butler Field.
The Lady Flames seemed primed to win their eight straight game and sixth straight conference contest before the Lady Statesmen made the furious comeback. Lee now falls to 26-13 and 14-9 in league play. Delta State improves to 15-16 and 6-11 in conference games.
Taylor Holland, Amber Adcock and Kaitlin Moore all produced run-scoring singles before Mariah Alvarez capped off the scoring with a two-run double off Lee reliever Brianna Eichbaum.
Lee starter Angie Hughes went 6.1 innings and allowed nine runs (five earned) on nine hits. The junior walked five and struck out six. The freshman Eichbaum (4-1) came on in relief to try and close out the game but was greeted rudely by the Lady Statesmen allowing three runs on four hits in just 2/3 innings of work.
Delta State started Shayna Beaver but quickly made a change after she ran into trouble in the first frame. Beaver recorded just two outs before giving up five hits and three runs. Brooke Watts pitched 2.1 innings and allowed three hits and two runs. Taylor Johnson (7-3) tossed the final four to record the win. Johnson gave up four runs and three hits to go along with one walk and three punch outs.
The Lady Flames swung the bats well again on Saturday with 11 hits but left seven runners stranded. Lexie Dean was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Amanda Lynn also had two base knocks, scored two runs and stole a base.
Emily Dagnan went 2-for-4 with a double to account for the lone extra base hit for Lee. The junior catcher had three RBI. Nia Ceasar singled twice and drove in a run while Kaylie Drew recorded her eighth hit of the weekend on a RBI single in the first inning.
Kassidy Tally paced the Delta State attack with three hits while Alvarez, Adcock and Holland each had two hits. Alvarez drove in three runs and Memrie Corley and Holland each added two RBI to help the visitors salvage the final game of the series.
The Lady Flames will look to shake off the disappointing finish next Saturday as they travel to Florence to battle No. 10 North Alabama in a three-game weekend set.