The Lee softball team will be fighting for playoff positioning as it travels down to Pensacola to take on red-hot No. 12 West Florida in the regular season series finale beginning Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Lady Flames (33-14, 19-10) currently sit in a tie for fourth place in the Gulf South Conference and have clinched their first birth in the GSC Tournament which is scheduled to get underway on Thursday, May 4. Lee moved all the way up to fourth in the latest South Region Poll, their highest ranking in school history.

West Florida (36-12, 20-9) has cracked the top 15 in the national rankings for the first time since 2010 and currently stands a half-game behind first place Alabama Huntsville in the league standings. The Argonauts are No. 2 in the regional poll behind Saint Leo.

HEATED RACE AT THE TOP
The top six teams in the GSC are separated by just three games heading into this weekend's final three regular season games.

The Chargers (21-9) are first and control their own destiny to host the GSC Tournament next week. The eight-team event will be played at the No. 1 seed's home field. UAH finishes up at West Alabama (11-19). The Argonauts are just a half-game back while North Alabama (20-10), Lee (19-9) and Mississippi College (19-9) are still within shouting distance to move up to No. 1.

Delta State (14-16) is fighting for the eighth and final spot with Shorter (14-15) and West Georgia (15-15). The Lady Statesmen host rival Mississippi College while Shorter and West Georgia figure to have easier roads with win-less Christian Brothers (0-30) and Union (7-23) respectively.

MORAN NAMED GSC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Pitcher Taylor Moran was named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. She joins teammate Abby McKinney who won the honor earlier this season.

The Chattanooga native tossed 10 innings in Monday's doubleheader including a complete game shutout over rival Mississippi College in game two. Moran allowed just three hits to improve to 11-4 on the season in the circle. She currently leads the GSC with a 1.21 ERA and is first in saves with six.

THE MATCHUP
Leigh Beatenbough (16-6, 3.14 ERA) will figure to get the ball in game one while Lee will bounce back with Moran in game two on Saturday. 

Offensively, it's speedy Kayla Louie who leads the team with a .381 average and 51 hits, all singles. Senior Courtney Crawford has been sizzling at the plate of late and has her average up to .354 with five doubles, two triples and 35 runs scored. Sophomore Stevie Baird leads off but also is tops on the team with a .582 slugging percentage (13 Doubles, 6 Home Runs).

Rhiannon Sassman leads the Argos and is fourth in the league with a .397 average. She has roped 11 doubles, seven triples and five home runs. As a team West Florida is second in team batting average at .320.
Becca Taylor (21-7) and Sarah Maloney (11-3) lead the pitching staff. Taylor has 117 strikeouts and a 2.22 ERA while Maloney follows with a 2.24 ERA.