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The Lee softball team used a pair of grand slams and a walk-off walk to salvage the third and final game of its weekend series with Union University, 9-8 on Saturday afternoon at Butler Field.

The Lady Flames dropped game one by a 5-3 margin as Union's Kelly Robey pitched a complete game for the second straight contest to earn the victory.

With the split the Lee is now 9-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Bulldogs sit at 7-2 on the season and 2-1 in league play.

Head Coach Emily Russell and her club will visit Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Lady Flames return to Gulf South Conference action on Saturday when they host No. 12 Alabama-Huntsville.

Game Two – LU 9, UU 8
Dominique Hannah and Kaylee Drew smashed grand slams at just the right time and Rachel Polacek drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to help Lee avoid the sweep and top the Bulldogs, 9-8 in the nightcap on Saturday.

Hannah's homer gave Lee a 4-1 advantage in the second inning before Union came roaring back for a run in third and four in the fourth to take a 7-4 lead.

With the bases packed again in the bottom of the fifth it was Drew's turn to clear them. The third baseman launched a homer to right to put the Lady Flames up 8-7.

The pesky Bulldogs would not back down as Maddison Tennyson hit sacrifice fly to tie things in the sixth.

In the seventh the Lady Flames loaded the bases with two outs and a full count on sophomore Polacek. The center fielder was up for the challenge as she worked a walk to send the Lady Flames home with the victory.

Freshman Brianna Eichbaum (1-0) earned her first collegiate victory in the circle as she worked 3 2/3 innings of relief. Eichbaum gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three.  Angie Hughes worked the first 3 1/3 innings and surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits while walking five.

Caylee Crews, Reagan Schrader and Alex Williams each had two hits for the visitors. Williams doubled and drove in three.

Williams started for Union and was charged with six runs over 4 1/3 innings of work.   Robey (5-2) won the first two games of the series for the Bulldogs but was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs in the final 2 1/3 innings.

Game One – LU 3, UU 5
Once again errors proved costly for the Lady Flames as they dropped Saturday's opener with Union, 5-3.

Lee committed three errors leading to five unearned runs in the third inning for the Bulldogs. Leigh Beatenbough (3-2) went the full seven innings and gave up nine hits and five unearned runs while striking out seven.

Schrader hit a sac fly to open the scoring for Union.  Carter Masolino followed with a run-scoring double before Whitney Christian delivered the final blow with a two-run homer.

Nia Ceasar helped Lee climb back into the contest as she launched a solo homer to straightaway center field in the fourth inning.

Amanda Lynn, Sarah Merced and Hannah each had two hits. Cesar, Drew and Polacek also had base knocks to round out the Lee offense.

Robey pitched all seven frames for the Bulldogs. The senior gave up 10 hits and three runs. She walked three and had six punch outs.

The Lady Flames struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh but could not finish the comeback. Hannah delivered a RBI single and Beatenbough followed with a run scoring groundout before Robey wiggled out of the jam to preserve the victory for Union.
 
Friday - LU 3, UU 4
The Lee softball team appeared to be cruising towards a shutout victory before two costly sixth inning errors opened the door for Union University. The Bulldogs topped the Lady Flames, 4-3 on Friday afternoon at Butler Field in the conference opener for both schools.

Lee starter Angie Hughes was perfect thru five innings but a couple of defensive miscues woke up the Union offense as they tallied four unearned runs in the sixth inning. After an error allowed Whitney Christian to score, Reagen Schrader and Alex Williams delivered two-out run scoring hits. Williams' two-run double to left center capped the visitors' rally.

Hughes (5-2) deserved a better decision as the junior was tagged with the loss after pitching the full seven innings. She gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out 11.

The Lady Flames got on the board early thanks to their speedy leadoff hitter, Amanda Lynn. The junior walked, stole second and would advance to third on a throwing error. Lynn would later come home on another throwing miscue to give Lee the 1-0 advantage. Leigh Beatenbough delivered one of her two RBI as she singled up the middle to put the Lady Flames up by two after one inning of play.

Beatenbough would extend the margin to three for the Lady Flames in the third inning as she doubled home Emily Dagnan.

Union's Kelly Robey (4-1) settled down after a walking four batters and giving up a pair of runs in the first inning to earn the victory. Robey tossed a complete game giving up just three runs (two earned) on four hits. She struck out 10 and issued six free passes.

The Lady Flames were looking for their second last at bat victory of the season after topping Tennessee Wesleyan, 4-3 on Wednesday.  After two quick outs in the seventh Kaylie Drew singled to center to put the winning run at the plate but was left stranded.