After letting game one slip away late the Lee softball team bounced back in a big way in game two winning 22-2 over Union University to earn the Gulf South Conference split on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Flames scored in every inning and lit up the scoreboard for 14 runs in the fifth frame to cruise to the 22-2 victory in game two.
Brooklynn Frazier kept her bat hot with a 4 for 4 day, six RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore catcher hit a two-run double to start the scoring in the first inning.
She added a run scoring single in the third and fifth innings and capped the huge fifth-inning rally with a three-run homer to center.
Taylor Moran reached base all four times and was 2 for 2 with a double. Leigh Beatenbough and Stevie Baird had three hits each while Zoe Miller, Kayla Gooch and Lily Hatcher all had multi-hit performances as well.
Freshman Shonna Penney benefited from the plethora of run support as she went 4.2 innings to earn her sixth win of the season. Penney allowed two runs on five hits walked three and struck out a pair.
Union's Parker Davis started allowed seven runs, two earned in three innings and was hit with the loss. The Bulldogs used four pitchers in five innings, each hurler gave up at least one run.
With the split the Lady Flames move to 14-15 on the year and 6-8 in league play. Union sits at 8-13 overall and 3-10 in the GSC.
"We are focused on coming out and playing our game tomorrow," said head coach Emily Russell. "We are proud that we bounced from a tough loss and streak of bad play in game one to play much better in game 2. I'm happy that we scored in each inning and had good at bats."
The rubber match of the three-game series will be take place on Sunday at 2 p.m.
GAME ONE – LEE 7 UNION 8
The Lady Flames saw a 6-2 lead slip away as the Bulldogs scored five in the sixth and walked it off in the seventh on a Samantha McDaniel single to give Union the 8-7 comeback victory in Saturday's opener.
McDaniel finished 2 for 4 with two RBI to lead Union while Haley Barnette smashed a two-run homer to cap off the fifth inning rally and was 4 for 4 with three RBI.
Beatenbough cruised through the first five innings allowing just two runs in the circle for the Lady Flames. The senior ran into trouble late and was tagged with the loss to run her record to an even 5-5. Beatenbough tossed all 6.2 innings allowing eight runs on eight hits. She struck out eight but struggled with command all day allowing seven free passes.
Moran was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and two RBI to pace the Lee offense. The sophomore slugger went 5 for 5 on the day and reached base in all seven plate appearances.
Beatenbough doubled and singled while driving in three runs. Frazier scored twice and delivered an RBI double in Lee's four-run fifth.
After starter Taylor Griffith labored through 4.2 innings allowing six runs Gabby Morris (5-5) settled things down over 2.1 relief innings to earn the victory. She yielded just one run on three hits.