Tweet #flamenation

FLORENCE, Ala. – The Lee softball team scored cooled off the red hot ninth-ranked North Alabama Lions with an 8-1 victory in Sunday's series finale.

After splitting yesterday's doubleheader the Lady Flames secured their fifth straight Gulf South Conference series victory and their first series win against an NCAA Division II ranked team.

The Lee offense used the long ball to blow open the contest and stun the Lions' top-ranked pitching staff. Kaylie Drew and NiaRaye Ceasar went back to back in the fifth inning. After a fly out Hollie Gray continued her successful series with a solo shot. Rachel Polacek made it four solo home runs in the frame to complete the four-run surge and give Lee a commanding 7-0 advantage.

The four-bagger has been a major weapon for the Lady Flames offense all season long and particularly in their trip to Florence, Ala. Ceasar went deep twice in game one yesterday while Drew leads the team with 13 homers, including two on the weekend. Gray and Polacek went yard for the first time this season.

Angie Hughes (13-5) made sure the run-support would stand as she won both games of the road series. Hughes went all seven innings and allowed just two hits and one unearned run. She walked four and recorded two strikeouts.

Hillary Carpenter (17-3) was tagged with the loss. She went 4 1/3 innings allowing nine hits and six runs (four earned). Bailey Nelson followed in relief and allowed two runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.

The Lady Flames jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Amanda Lynn scored on a North Alabama error before Drew hit a sacrifice fly. The Lady Flames added a third run in the third when Polacek dashed home after a wild pitch.

Lynn finished the scoring with a RBI single in the seventh to score Gray. Lynn and Lexie Dean set the table with two singles and each scored. Gray and Polacek added singles to go along with their home run swings.

The Lions (31-8, 16-7) avoided the shutout thanks to a Brittany Gillison single and an error allowing Libby Olinger to trot home for the unearned run.

The Lady Flames (28-14, 16-10) will travel to Young Harris College on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader before welcoming GSC rival and No. 1 ranked Valdosta State to Butler Field on Saturday.