The Lee University softball dropped the third and final game of the series to Valdosta State University 13-5 on Sunday afternoon suffering a sweep at the hands of the Blazers. With the loss, Lee fell to 7-4 overall and 3-3 in Gulf South Conference play.
VSU took advantage of a couple of free bases to score three runs in the top of the first inning. Starting pitcher Alaina Watson walked two batters and hit two more to help bring the runs in. The Lady Flames answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first. Alexa Scalzo led the inning off with a bunt single. She stole second base before Hailey Simco had her own bunt single to move Scalzo to third. Javaria Smith drove in the first run of the game with a single. After a pitching change, Bella Galloway and Laney Harris had back-to-back sacrifice fly balls to tie the game at 3-3 after the first inning.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the third when Galloway hit a two-run homer to straight away centerfield which also scored Simco to give Lee the 5-3 lead. Two more runners got on base for Lee in the third but were left stranded. VSU tied the game on a two-run home of their own from Abby Solt. VSU retook the lead in the top of the fifth with back-to-back solo home runs.
VSU exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth inning as a passed ball and two more home runs brought in the runs. VSU scored one more run on an error by Marquila Howell to lead 13-5. The Lady Flames got base runners in the sixth and seventh inning but could not bring anyone home.
VSU hit five home runs in the win while the Lady Flames had one from Galloway. Alaina Watson took the loss to go to 1-2 on the season. She had a career high six strikeouts but gave up seven runs on six hits while walking three and hitting three batters. Abigail Welbaum went one and two-thirds innings in relief giving up three hits and five runs. Olivia Tyson threw one and one-third innings and gave up one run on one hit.
Saclzo was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run and two stolen bases. Simco was 2-for-3 with two runs. Galloway added three RBI in the loss
Lee will go to Bristol, Tenn. on Wednesday, February 28 to take on King University.
Coach Emily Russell’s Thoughts:
“Valdosta hit the ball really well this weekend. It is tough not having the experience that we should have in the circle, but it is a great opportunity to give others a chance to grow. It is hard to do though in a game especially against good hitters.”
“We will use this weekend to focus on a gameplan to be ourselves. We need to learn manage situations better and not let them get out of hand.”