The Lee softball team split a doubleheader with No. 22 Valdosta State on Saturday afternoon at Butler Field.
Behind the arm of Taylor De Adder and 15 hits from the offense the Lady Flames defeated the Blazers, 8-4 in game one before falling 7-1 in the nightcap.
Lee moves to 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the GSC with the split. Valdosta State is now 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the GSC.
The Lady Flames will head to Tusculum for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m.
LEE 8 VSU 4
The Lady Flames pounded out 15 singles and overcame a 3-0 deficit to top the Blazers, 8-4 in Saturday's opener.
Taylor De Adder helped herself out as the freshman pitcher went 3 for 4 with two RBI. In the circle De Adder (3-2) pitched a complete game allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits. She punched out seven and walked just one.
"I am proud of how the team responded in the first game today from the loss yesterday," said Lee head coach Emily Russell. "We stuck to the game plan and were successful by putting them under pressure. Taylor pitched well today. She kept a strong hitting team off balance and made the lead hold up. I'm proud of the way she threw. We shifted the lineup a little and the team responded well."
Kayla Louie, Lily Hatcher, Kayla Gooch, Kiley Longmire and Abby McKinney each had two hits in the victory. Louie, Gooch and McKinney all scored twice. Zoe Miller ended a five-run sixth inning rally with a two-run single up the middle.
Kasie Johnson started for VSU and cruised through the first four inning before running into trouble in the fifth. Johnson was lifted after going 4.1 innings allowing three runs, two earned on eight hits while striking out six. Givonna Watts (0-1) came on in relief and worked out of the fifth inning jam before yielding three of the five runs in the sixth and was tagged with the loss.
Haley Garrett provided most of the offense for the Blazers as she homered and finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
LEE 1 VSU 7
The Blazers bounced back in a big way in game two as they scored five runs in the first two innings to defeat Lee, 7-1.
The early run support was more than enough for Valdosta's ace Caylie Van Auken (6-0) as she went all seven innings allowing one run on seven hits to go along with seven strikeouts.
Bailey Church provided the lone run as she launched a solo homer to left in the bottom of the second. Church has now hit three home runs and delivered 14 RBI this season.
After Shonna Penney (2-5) ran into trouble in the second inning, Steve Baird came on and finished the final 5.2 innings. Baird settled things down allowing two runs on six hits.
Leadoff hitter Jordenne Gaten hit two home runs and doubled to spark the Valdosta offense. Gaten set the tone with a home run to open up the game. Every starter had a hit as the Blazers tallied 12 in the game.
"We got off to a rough start but Stevie came in and held them to two runs. This was a rough week but I think we grew together as a team and can rely on each other to do our individual jobs and be successful," said Russell.
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