HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Lee softball team was topped by the Mississippi College Choctaws, 4-2 in the Gulf South Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday evening.
After two-full days of rain delays the Lady Flames finally got on the field in their very first GSC Tournament and wasted little time in jumping on the board as Stevie Baird laced the third pitch of the game over the right-center field fence to give Lee the early lead.
Brooklynn Frazier made it 2-0 Lady Flames in the third inning with a run-scoring single to center to score Baird. Frazier finished 1 for 2 with a walk.
Leigh Beatenbough got the start for the Lady Flames in the circle and tossed three scoreless innings before the Choctaws got things going at the dish. Beatenbough (16-9) allowed three runs on six hits and walked three while striking out a pair. Moran came on to toss the final inning in relief and allowed three hits and one run. The freshman recorded two strikeouts.
Mississippi College jumped on the board when pinch-hitter Shelby Miller hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Haley Thompson followed with an RBI base knock to tie things up.
The very next inning it was Kristen Qualls delivering hte decisive blow as she launched a home run over the right-center field wall to put the Choctaws up 3-2. Mississippi College added a solo run in sixth inning on an RBI single by Alexia Harmon.
Adrianna Morgan (8-5) got the win as she tossed a complete game allowing four hits and two runs. She worked around four early walks and struck out four.
Beatenbough doubled to lead off the sixth inning for the Lady Flames but the promising start was short circuited as Morgan weaved out of trouble to hold the lead for the Choctaws.
"I thought we came out with the right mindset and obviously Stevie's home run was a shot in the arm for our team," said head coach Emily Russell. "We lost momentum in the middle innings and we were never quite able to get it back. Hats off to Mississippi College for taking advantage of those opportunities. Hopefully we will get a chance to continue to play on at regionals."
The Lady Flames will now wait for the NCAA Selection Show to see if they will advance on to the South Region Tournament. The bids will be announced on Monday at 10 a.m.
