Tweet #FanTheFlames

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Lee softball team made history on Thursday afternoon as it won the first NCAA Regional Playoff contest in program history with a 7-4 win over No. 17 and third-seeded The University of the Alabama in Huntsville.

The Lady Flames used a four-run fourth inning to turn a 4-3 deficit into a three-run advantage. Annabeth Pruett got things going in the big four-run inning as she laced a two-run double to left field. Baird followed with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt to score Pruett and give Lee a 6-4 advantage. The final run of the inning came home on a wild pitch.

With the three-run cushion freshman Taylor Moran (12-5) took control in the circle and showcased why she was an All-GSC Second Team selection and the league's ERA leader (1.32). Moran sat down the last 12 batters of the high-powered Chargers offense in order. She allowed just one unearned run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings of relief.

Leigh Beatenbough started but the Chargers got to the junior early as Ashely Cornell hit a solo home run in the first inning and Brooke Miller belted a two-run blast in the second. Miller finished with two hits while Emily Glover also added two hits.

For the second straight game sophomore leadoff hitter Stevie Baird got things going early for Lee as she ripped a double to left to open things up. She would come around to score on a base hit by Abby McKinney.

"I'm proud of the team and their effort today. They had to overcome some obstacles today but we worked through them," said head coach Emily Russell after the game. "Taylor came in and pitched well and AB (Annabeth Pruett) had a huge hit that really made a big impact in the game. The girls as a whole hit well today and that was good to see."

All totaled the Lee offense pounded out 13 hits as Baird, Beatenbough, Moran, Courtney Crawford, and Kayla Louie each had two hits.

Tyler Harrison (20-8) got the start for UAH and suffered the loss. Harrison lasted 3 1/3 innings and yielded seven runs on 12 hits. Glover came on and pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Lady Flames will now play another GSC foe in North Alabama at noon on Friday as the double-elimination NCAA South Region 2 bracket continues. The Lions won their first game 10-4 with a six-run eighth inning over host Saint Leo.