Guided by the steady right arm of junior Leigh Beatenbough the Lee softball team defeated No. 21 North Alabama, 3-1 in the opening game the Gulf South Conference weekend set.
The Lady Flames (15-7, 6-4) got a dominated performance from their ace as Beatenbough (8-4) pitched 6.2 innings allowing one run on seven hits while striking out three. The Canon, Ga. native now sports a 2.97 ERA on the year.
Freshman Taylor Moran came on to shut the door and earn her fourth save of the season.
With the tying runs on base coach Emily Russell turned to Moran who walked the bases loaded before inducing a game-ending groundout to seal the key conference win.
Lee scored all three of its runs in the second inning. With one on and two outs Beatenbough ripped a sharp single up the middle. Zoe Miller followed with an infield single and all three runs came home to score on a throwing error by the Lions off a Kayla Louie groundball.
All-American Hillary Carpenter (8-4) was the tough-luck loser for the Lions. Carpenter went the distance allowing just seven singles and three unearned runs. She struck out seven and walked just one batter.
Courtney Crawford, Brooklynn Frazier and Miller each had two singles to lead the seven-hit attack. Beatenbough supplied the other single and drew a walk.
Hannah Shollenberger delivered the lone run for North Alabama as she singled home pinch runner Lexie Norfleet in the seventh inning. Shollenberger finished with two singles while Baylee Nelson doubled and singled in the contest.
The two teams will wrap up the series with a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.