Led by a pair of seniors the Lee Softball team claimed a series win over West Alabama with an 8-4 victory in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon from sun-drenched Butler Field.
Angie Hughes, a four-year staple in the circle for the Lady Flames, pitched all seven innings and struck out 11 batters for her seventh victory of the season. The Blairsville, Ga. native allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and danced around seven walks.
At the plate it was Nia Ceasar who led the charge.
The senior from Fairfield, Calif. launched a solo home run to left center in the second inning to put the Lady Flames up early 1-0. She would extend the lead to 4-1 with a RBI double in the fourth and doubled home another run in the seventh to finish 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and three runs scored.
West Alabama's Ashley Stassin was losing the pitcher. Stassin allowed two runs on six hits in three innings. Amanda Medders lasted just 2/3 of an inning allowing four runs on five hits. Andrea Edmonds tossed two innings and allowed two runs before Allie Kelley came on to get the final out in the bottom of the sixth.
Stevie Baird ripped two doubles and drove in two while Lexie Dean, Emily Dagnan and Courtney Crawford also doubled. All totaled the Lady Flames pounded out 14 hits and had eight extra base hits.
Crawford, a junior-transfer from Chattanooga State Community College, had six hits in the series and has settled in nicely to the No. 9 spot in the lineup.
"We've tried to mix things up in the lineup and Courtney gives up the double leadoff scenario with her and Amanda at nine and one," said head coach Emily Russell. She's seeing a lot of good pitches and making the most of them. We've made adjustments and the players have really responded."
The Tigers were limited to just four singles but did draw seven walks. Audrey Diekmann, Kristen Bittle, Medders and Stassin each drove in a run in the game.
Lee will look to keep things rolling as it will step out of conference and welcome Young Harris College to town on Wednesday afternoon. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Mountain Lions are currently 28-10 and ranked No. 18 in the latest NCAA D2 poll.
"I think game one of this series really helped us win games two and three," admitted Russell. I told the girls just don't quit and they responded to the challenge. Angie, was throwing well today and we wanted to ride her as long as we could. We had some timely hits and ran the bases well and scored in a lot of innings to keep the pressure on the other team. I like where we are as a team right now at this part of the season."