Shortstop Kayla Louie fields a grounder in Lee’s series finale with Union on Sunday.
photo by Lee University
The Union Lady Bulldogs exacted some revenge on the Lee softball team with an 8-0 blanking of the Lady Flames in Sunday's series finale from Butler Field.
Lee (28-12, 15-9) cruised to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, winning both games by the exact same score, 8-0.
In a reversal of script it was Union's (23-17, 7-16) turn in game three as Haley Barnette delivered the decisive blow with a grand slam home run in the top of the second. The slugging first baseman finished with six RBI in the contest.
Prior to the Barnette blast Kristen Pickens got Union on the board with an RBI single in the second inning as the Bulldogs sent all nine ladies to the plate to take an early 5-0 lead.
Leigh Beatenbough (13-5) was tagged with the loss as she worked just 1 2/3 innings allowing five runs on five hits before giving way to Taylor Moran after Barnette's grand slam. Moran surrendered three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings of relief. She struck out three and walked one. The two pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout over 12 innings of work on Saturday.
Union's Gabby Morris (6-9) scattered five singles and struck out five as she tossed six scoreless innings to earn the complete game victory.
Lee appeared to be threatening after loading the bases with just one down in the bottom of the fourth inning and Stevie Baird at the plate. Baird appeared to check up on a third strike swing but was called out on appeal to the field umpire. Morris retired the side on the next batter inducing a fielder's choice to escape the jam and preserve the shutout.
The Bulldogs would extend the margin with the help of a Lee error in the sixth inning as pinch runner Taylor Griffith scored on a throwing error. Barnette followed with a two run-single to push the lead up to 8-0.
Baird, Abby McKinney, Allison Meadows and Kayla Louie each had singles in the contest to account for Lee's five hits. Brooklynn Frazier reached base twice with a pair of walks.
The loss drops Lee to fifth place in the conference but they sit just two games back of first place Alabama Huntsville and Valdosta State (17-7) and one-game back of West Florida and Mississippi College (16-8).
The Lady Flames will travel for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday as they take on Young Harris College. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Sunday was the first annual Daddy/Daughter Day at Butler Field. The players' fathers accompanied them on the field prior to the contest and over 60 dads and daughters from the community were treated to lunch off the grill, a commemorative t-shirt and got a chance to play catch and get autographs with the Lady Flames after the game.