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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Lee softball team earned a doubleheader split and road conference series victory on Sunday afternoon after topping West Alabama, 7-2 in game one and falling short, 7-5 in the nightcap.

The Lady Flames opened the weekend tilt with a 10-4 victory on Saturday evening.

Lee pounded out 12 hits to back a complete game effort from freshman Leigh Beatenbough in the opener. Beatenbough (5-5) allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out a pair.

Senior slugger Dominique Hannah got things going early for the Lady Flames as she launched a two-run homer in the first frame. Junior Kaylie Drew would single in a run in the third inning to account for one of her three hits in the contest.

After Scarlett Wright put the Tigers on the board with a two-run round-tripper in the third inning the Lady Flames broke things open in the seventh inning tallying four runs on singles from Beatenbough, Brooke Bailey and and Lexie Dean.

Lee catcher Emily Dagnan added a pair of hits, walked and scored a run. Bailey and Hannah each drove in two to help the Lady Flames secure the series victory.

In game two the Tigers (9-11, 3-8) avoided the sweep by topping the Lady Flames, 7-5.

Hannah once again jump started the bats with a triple in the first and would later score on a Dagnan sacrifice fly to give Lee an early 2-0 advantage.

The lead was short-lived however as West Alabama responded with two runs in the first and three in the second. Lee starter Angie Hughes (6-4) was tagged with the loss after being touched up for five runs (four earned) in just 1 2/3 innings of work. She allowed three hits and surrendered five walks.

Wright hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the first to help pace the home team's six-hit attack. Libby Davis added an RBI double and scored two runs while Lydia North added a pair of hits from the leadoff spot. 

Brianna Eichbaum worked 4 1/3 innings of relief in the circle for Lee. The freshman kept the Lady Flames within striking distance allowing just two runs on three hits.

Dagnan capped off her three hit day with a solo homer in the third inning to briefly put Lee within one at 5-4. Shortstop Amanda Lynn added a pair of hits and walked twice.

The Lady Flames (12-9, 4-8) will get back to work on Tuesday as they travel to Madisonville to take on Hiwassee College in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Lee will visit North Georgia on Thursday before getting back home for a weekend GSC series with Mississippi College on Saturday.

Saturday
The Lee softball team exploded for 10 runs on nine hits as it scored a road victory over West Alabama in Gulf South Conference action on Saturday evening by a final of 10-4.

The two clubs will conclude the three-game set with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. EST.

After a sacrifice fly and a fielders' choice helped the Lady Flames jump out to an early lead, NiaRaye Ceasar opened things up in the fifth inning as she belted a three-run homer to give the visitors a 5-0 advantage. The junior finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

Lydia North answered for the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth as she smashed a three-run homer of her own. A wild pitch later in the inning drew West Alabama to within one at 5-4 after five innings.

Kaylie Drew roped a solo homer in the sixth to give the Lady Flames some breathing room before the defensive wheels fell off in the seventh for the Tigers allowing Lee to score four unearned runs to comfortably finish off the victory.

Leigh Beatenbough (4-5) started in the circle for the Lady Flames and worked four-plus innings. She allowed just two hits and two runs (one earned). The freshman walked three and struck out four.

Veteran Angie Hughes came on in relief in the fifth inning. The sophomore tossed the final three innings and allowed two runs on one hit. Hughes walked three had recorded seven punch outs.

Alli Hall (5-7) was tagged with the loss for the Tigers. Hall pitched all seven innings allowing five earned runs on nine hits. She struggled with her command yielding seven walks and had three strikeouts.

Drew and Ceasar paced the Lady Flames offense with two hits each while Emily Dagnan, Rachel Polacek, Brooke Bailey, Amanda Lynn and Beatenbough also tallied hits.

Treasure Rodriquez and Libby Davis joined North with base knocks for West Alabama. Jordyn Whiddon didn't record a hit but drew four walks and scored a run.