The Lee University softball withstood a late rally in game two of the doubleheader and took the final game of the series 8-7 over the University of West Florida. The Argos came back in the first game and won it 11-7. With the split, the Lady Flames are now 20-19 on the season and 7-16 in Gulf South Conference play. Lee will hop right back to action on Tuesday against the University of North Georgia in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Game 1
The Lady Flames jumped out to an early 6-1 lead but the Argos rallied for the 11-7 win.
The Argos scored in the first inning to take the lead.
They used a walk, stolen base and an error to score the run. Lee responded and took the lead in first. Alexa Scalzo singled and then stole second base. When Ana Macha was walked, Scalzo advanced to third. Lee then did a double steal to score Scalzo. Hailey Simco then drove Macha home do score a second run.
The Lady Flames scored four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Alyson Jarvi and Kaelin Ault each got on via errors. Bella Galloway drove in Jarvi and then Scalzo brought Ault in. Javaria Smith finished the inning up with a two RBI single to score Scalzo and Galloway.
UWF responded in the third inning with five runs. Three singles, a walk, double, and home run brough in five runs to make it 6-5. Lee scored their final run of the game in the fourth on a solo home run from Scalzo.
The Argos took the lead in the fifth. They used two singles, a double, and a triple to score three runs to lead 9-7. They added two more runs in the sixth inning to win 11-7.
UWF outhit Lee 11-9 in the win while the Lady Flames committed four errors in the loss. Madison Barnett started in the circle for Lee and went two and one-third innings and gave up six tuns on five hits with a strikeout. Layne Bailey took the loss for Lee as she threw four and two-thirds innings giving up five runs with only three earned on six hits. Hannah Harper had the complete game win for UWF as she gave up seven runs on nine hits and had three strikeouts.
Scalzo was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs and two RBI in the game. Smith added two RBI as well. Emma Brice had three RBI in the win for UWF.
Game 2
Lee again had a big lead going up 7-1 in the fourth inning before UWF rallied. This time the Lady Flames were able to hold on for a 8-7 win.
Both teams first run came in the second inning. UWF’s Brice hit a solo home run to go up 1-0. In the bottom of the second, Bella Galloway single and worked her way to third before Macha drove her in with a double.
Lee tallied three runs in the third inning with two outs in the frame. Simco started the rally with a single. Then Galloway doubled to bring Simco home. The rally was completed by a two-run home run from Ava Perkins. In the bottom of the fourth, Lee added two more runs. Macha singled and then Smith tripled to score a run. Jarvi added the second run of the frame with a double. In the fifth, Hayden Gardner hit a solo home run in a pinch-hit situation to give Lee the 7-1 lead.
UWF hit a solo home run, a single and a double to get two runs back. Lee’s final run came in the sixth on a sac fly from Simco to bring Smith home. The Lady Flames left the sixth inning with the bases loaded.
UWF scored four times in the seventh inning to pull within one run. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and then Erin Moon hit a grand slam to make it 8-7. Layne Bailey entered the game to pitch for Lee and got the save and the win for Lee.
Lee out hit UWF 12-11 in the contest. The Lady Flames left nine runners on base in the win while UWF left six.
Natalie Pruitt-Geesey earned her 14th win of the season going six innings and giving up seven runs on 11 hits. Bailey picked up her third save of the season getting a strikeout to end the game.
Macha was 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Galloway had two hits and two runs with an RBI as well. Perkins led the team with two RBI.