The Lee softball team kicked off the NCCAA World Series with a commanding 9-3 victory over Southern Wesleyan University on a sun-splashed Wednesday afternoon at the Botetourt Sports Complex.
Kaylie Drew got things going for the Lady Flames as she launched her 18th home run of the season over the center field wall to tie things up at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning after the Warriors had grabbed the brief advantage.
Drew is now tied with former Lee All-American Johanna Gomez for the single-season Lee home run record.
Drew wasn't the only one who brought her hitting shoes to the complex.
Amanda Lynn roped two singles, scored twice and wreaked havoc on the bases with two steals. Lexie Dean added three hits and two runs scored and Dominique Hannah had three singles, three RBI and scored twice.
All together Lee pounded out 11 hits in the contest to back a solid pitching performance from junior Angie Hughes. Qiley Lewis and Rachel Polacek added singles and Emily Dagnan drove in a run on with a suicide squeeze bunt.
Hughes made the lead stick as she worked four scoreless innings of relief for her 17th win of the season. Hughes did not allow a hit and walked just one batter while striking out three.
Freshman Leigh Beatebough started and tossed the first three innings for the Lady Flames. She allowed five hits and three runs while striking out four.
Hunter Hoskins pitched the first 4.1 innings in the circle for the Warriors. She allowed eight hits and seven runs, six earned. Allison Parker came on for the final 1.2 frames and gave up three hits and a pair of runs.
Southern Wesleyan jumped on the board early with a two-run single by Ashleigh Wilbur. Allison Barbee followed with a solo homer in the third inning to cut the deficit to one before the Lady Flames bats and the arm of Hughes put the contest out of reach.
The Lady Flames will get the rest of the day off as they advance to play tomorrow at 2 p.m. to face the winner of No. 2 seed Simpsonville University and No. 10 seed Cedarville.