A three-run eighth inning propelled Auburn Montgomery past the Lee softball team, 8-7 in Saturday's series finale from Butler Field.
The Lady Flames took a 3-1 lead in the third inning as Bailey Church launched a home run to left field. In the fourth freshman Kayla Gooch hit her first career long ball as she drilled pitch over the center field wall to make it 4-1.
The Warhawks battled back from there however and scored two runs in the fifth and single runs in the sixth and seventh to take a 5-4 advantage.
Lee would force extra innings on a bases loaded walk by Gooch in the bottom of the seventh but Chanel Newcomer registered a big bases loaded strikeout to keep the game tied.
The Warhawks answered right back in the top of the eighth scoring three runs to put the game away. The Alabama club scored in each of the final four innings.
Moran ripped a two-run home in the eighth but the rally ended there to send Lee to 17-18 and 7-11 in the GSC. The win moves Auburn Montgomery to 16-10 overall and an even 9-9 in league play.
Chanel Newcomer through all eight innings to move to 9-4 on the year for the visitors. She allowed eight hits and gave up seven runs, five earned. She walked five and fanned five.
Leigh Beatenbough worked the first 4.1 innings for the Lady Flames before running into trouble in the fifth. She gave up three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out four. Shonna Penney (7-8) threw 3.2 innings of relief and was hit with the loss. She gave up five runs on eight hits.
"We couldn't roll out a smooth game all together," said head coach Emily Russell. "We scored enough runs today to win but our pitching worked behind in counts a lot and defensively we didn't make some plays that we should make. We need some players to step up and thrive in the game situations the way we practice."
Brooklynn Frazier singled twice in the contest to pace the eight-hit effort for Lee. Stevie Baird, Kayla Louie and Beatenbough also reached on singles.
Jaycie Walker led off the game with a home run and hit her 10
th double to go a perfect 3 for 3 out of the leadoff spot for AUM. Morgan Duschell also had a three-hit performance with a double and two singles while Gracie Harris had three singles and scored three runs.
"I was happy to see Kayla hit her first home run," noted Russell. "I joked with her just prior to that at bat to hit it where they're not after she had several loud outs earlier in the series. She took the advice and has really been swinging the bat well of late."
The Lady Flames will travel to Valdosta State to square off with the No. 24 Blazers on Friday at 4 and 6:30 p.m. The two rivals will wrap up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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