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Thanks to two solid pitching performances and timely hitting the No. 6 North Alabama Lions defeated the Lee softball team, 12-3 and 7-3 in Friday's Gulf South Conference doubleheader from Butler Field.

The Lady Flames (11-15, 2-12) will look to salvage the series finale with the Lions (28-4, 12-2) tomorrow at 1 p.m.

GAME 2 LEE 3 UNA 7
Lions' starter Raven Cole (14-1) danced around trouble throughout the contest and Anna Gayle Norris delivered a three-run home run to help lead the visitors past the Lady Flames, 7-3 in Friday's nightcap.

With Lee trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the second the Lady Flames loaded the bases with nobody out after a walk by Rachel Polacek, a Stevie Baird single and a walk by Amanda Lynn.

Cole buckled down however and struck out the next three batters to preserve the lead and give the Lions' a shot in the arm. Cole tossed all seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out eight. She did surrender five free passes.

The Lady Flames would tie things up at 2-2 in the third inning when Courtney Crawford scored on a Lions' error. In the fourth inning Lee took a brief 3-2 lead after a single by Hallie Davis scored Lexie Dean.

The advantage was short lived however as Norris delivered the decisive blow for the Lions in the fifth, launching a three-run homer to right center to put UNA up 5-2.

The Lions tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh and finished the game with nine hits.

Leigh Beatenbough (2-5) went the distance in the loss for the Lady Flames. She allowed seven runs on nine hits and struck out two while walking four.

Dean singled twice in the contest for Lee and Davis added a double and single. The Lady Flames had their chances throughout leaving 11 runners on base.

GAME 1 LEE 3 UNA 12
The Lions flexed their muscles and showed why they are currently ranked sixth in the country as they topped Lee, 12-3 in game one.

UNA wasted little time jumping on the board as Brooklyn Clark drilled a three-run home run to start off the day. Clark drove in four runs total to lead the UNA offense. Leadoff hitter Bailey Nelson added three hits and scored two runs while Reagan Tittle was 4 for 5 with a double and scored four runs scored. 

Davis added a double, single and drove in the first run of the day for the Lady Flames in the bottom of the first. Dean also tallied two hits and a RBI in the second inning while Courtney Crawford ripped a run scoring double in the fifth inning.

Angie Hughes (4-8) was tagged with the loss. She allowed seven runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Hughes walked five and struck out three. 

Hillary Carpenter (13-2) got the win in the circle for the Alabama club. She yielded three runs on eight hits. Carpenter punched out two batters and allowed three walks.