Clutch hitting and solid pitching was the recipe for success on Sunday afternoon as the Lee softball team swept a Gulf South Conference doubleheader from the surging Mississippi College Choctaws.
The two teams will conclude the three-game set tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. The Lady Flames are the first team to win a conference series against the Choctaws this season and move to 14-10 overall and 6-7 in league play. Mississippi College drops to 13-7 and 8-5.
Lee holds a 3-0 edge in the all-time series after winning in Clinton, Miss.
last year in the NCCAA Mid-East Region Tournament. The games were played at Walker Valley High School due to wet field conditions at Lee's Butler Field.
Game One – LU 7, MC 0
After four scoreless innings the Lee bats awoke in the bottom fifth as the Lady Flames scored five runs to open things up en route to 7-0 blasting of Mississippi College in Sunday's opener.
Dominique Hannah delivered the decisive blow in the fifth as she roped a bases-loaded triple to left center to put the exclamation point on the rally. Rachel Polacek started things off with a squeeze bunt RBI. After Amanda Lynn reached safely on an infield single Lexie Dean roped a run-scoring single before Hannah's three-bagger.
The five-run outburst was more than enough support for Lee starter Leigh Beatenbough. The freshman pitched a complete game shutout allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out five. Beatenbough now moves to an even 6-6 on the season.
Carlie Sargent (9-2) started and breezed through the first four innings before running into trouble for the visitors. The Choctaws' ace finished five innings of work surrendering five runs on six hits while recording five punch outs.
Shay Mickens led Mississippi College with two hits from the leadoff spot. The speedy center field also stole a base. Brooke Smitherman, Madison Oliver and Katherine Lee also recorded hits in the contest.
Emily Dagnan singled and scored twice for the Lady Flames. It was a Dagnan two-strike hit-by-pitch however that seemed to turn the tide in the big fifth inning for the home team.
Lee would add a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning as Qiley Lewis singled home a run for one of her two base knocks. After Lewis stole second Lee benefited from a Mississippi College throwing error allowing Beatenbough to score the final run.
Game Two – LU 6, MC 2
Nia Ceasar delivered a pair of two-out RBI singles to jump start the offense and Bri Eichbaum continued to shine in the circle as the Lady Flames completed the twin bill sweep with a 6-2 victory over Mississippi College in game two.
Eichbaum (3-0) remained unbeaten pitching four innings for coach Emily Russell's squad. The freshman allowed a pair of runs on five hits. Angie Hughes worked the final three innings to record her first save of the year. Hughes did not allow a run or hit, walked three and struck out four.
Ceasar and Lynn paced the 12-hit Lee attack with three hits apiece. Kaylie Drew added two hits, including her team leading sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. Hannah roped two singles while Beatenbough delivered an RBI single.
Madison Oliver doubled, singled and drove in both runs for the Choctaws. Megan Everett, Macy Lee and Ashley Subervielle also singled.
Mississippi College tied things up at 2-2 on Oliver's double in the top of the fourth before Lee took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Three Choctaws errors opened the door for the Lady Flames. Lewis scored the go-ahead run on Lynn's single while Rachel Polacek raced home after the third and final error of the frame.
Lacie Patterson started for Mississippi College and worked the first five innings. She gave up five runs (three earned) on 10 hits. Ashley Vann tossed an inning in relief and gave up one run on two hits.