Thanks to six RBI from Abby McKinney and eight walks by Valdosta State pitching the Lee softball team clinched the series victory over the No. 5 Blazers in Saturday's finale from a sun-splashed Butler Field.
The Lady Flames fell behind 2-0 before coming to the plate but the deficit was short lived as McKinney drilled a three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first to put Lee ahead for good at 3-2.
From there the Lee offense pounded out 13 runs on 13 hits to improve to 22-10 on the year and 11-7 in the GSC.
The Blazers drop just their second conference series of the season and fall to 25-8 overall and 14-4 in league play.
"To be able to answer them right away in the bottom of the first was a big plus for us," said head coach Emily Russell. "I thought we had a really good approach at the plate and were patient and that allowed us to put their pitchers in some tough spots and keep the pressure on them even when they battled back into the game."
In addition to McKinney, Taylor Moran drove in three runs for the Lady Flames as she was hit by a pitch with the bases jammed in the second and drove in two more runs with a single up the box in the fifth inning.
Leadoff hitter Stevie Baird was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and two singles to go along with four runs scored. The sophomore third baseman reached base safely in all five plate appearances. Courtney Crawford added two hits, walked twice and scored three runs as the first three batters in the Lee lineup combined to go 7 for 10 with nine RBI, and eight runs scored.
Moran (6-3) came on in relief of starter Leigh Beatenbough in the fourth inning. She earned the win allowing just two hits over 3.2 innings while striking out a pair. Beatenbough tossed the first 3.1 frames allowing six runs on nine hits.
The Blazers pitching staff struggled throughout the day as four pitchers combined to give up eight walks, two hit batters and surrender 13 hits. Yesterday's game two winner Kasie Johnson (5-3) got the starting nod but failed to retire a batter before she was pulled. Each pitcher gave up at least three runs to the heavy hitting Lady Flames.
Chelsea Canara had three hits and hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to lead the Valdosta State offense. The Blazers came into the series leading the league in most offensive categories but managed just two home runs and 11 runs total over the three game series. Leadoff hitter Jessie Mohl had three singles and scored a pair.
"Defensively we made some tough plays that really helped to get our pitchers out of trouble and kept Valdosta from putting together big innings," added Russell.
Up next for the surging Lee softball team will be a home mid-week matchup with Trevecca Nazarene on Wednesday beginning at 3 p.m. The Lady Flames jump back into conference play next weekend as they visit West Alabama on Saturday at 1 p.m.