Facing a familiar foe in Gulf South Conference rival Union University (Tenn.) the Lee softball team could not overcome a four-run fifth inning by the Bulldogs in falling 7-3 on Wednesday afternoon in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Mid-East Region Tournament.
The loss drops the Lady Flames (23-23) in to the unenviable position of having to play out of the loser's bracket of the double-elimination championship. Due to rain concerns on Friday the tournament will be completed in just two days, which will force Lee to win four games on Thursday in order to be crowned the victors.
Union (25-25) would take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Alex Williams hit a sacrifice fly to score Reagan Schrader.
Lee fired back with a two-run second inning.
Lizzie Stevens singled home Dominique Hannah and would later score herself on a single from Amanda Lynn.
The Lady Flames would briefly extend the margin to 3-1 with a run in the third inning as Stevens recorded her second RBI of the contest with a double that scored Hannah.
Union bounced back to tie things up with a two-spot in the home half of the third thanks to a run-scoring double by Erin Picard and a RBI single from Shelby Lamb.
From there Union pitcher Kelly Robey (20-18) settled in and did not allow a run while her teammates sealed the victory with the four-run fifth inning. Robey pitched the full seven innings giving up three runs on six hits. She walked six but registerd seven punchouts.
Amanda Chandler ripped a two-run single to start the scoring in the fifth for the Bulldogs. Summer Cross would add a run on a squeeze bunt to make it for 6-3. The final tally came via a Lee throwing error.
Angie Hughes (15-12) started in the circle for Head Coach Emily Russell and was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Hughes allowed eight hits, four walks and struck out three. Annabeth Pruett worked a scoreless 1 2/3 innings of relief for Lee.
Stevens went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to lead the Lee offensive attack. Lynn added a pair of singles and drove in a run while Hannah and Amber Broome rounded out the six-hit performance with a hit apiece.
The Lee loss evens the season series at 2-2 with Union. The Lady Flames took 2-of-3 from the Bulldogs earlier in the year in GSC regular season action.
Lee will look to bounce back on Thursday at noon when they tangle with the No.1 seed Campbellsville University. The Tigers fell 3-0 to host Mississippi College on Wednesday.