CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Lee softball team opened the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic by splitting a doubleheader on Friday afternoon on a near perfect day with sunshine and temperatures approaching 80 degrees.

The Lady Flames took down Molloy College in game one, 8-1 behind a dominating pitching performance from freshman Taylor De Adder and a big fourth inning at the plate. Lee fell in game two, 7-2 to Florida Tech.

The Lady Flames are now 4-3 on the season and will take on West Chester (Pa.) at 10 a.m. and Eckerd at 12 p.m. tomorrow on day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Molloy was playing its 2019 opener while Florida Tech improves to 3-2.

"Today we just couldn't quite close out some opportunities in game two or game one for that matter," said Lee head coach Emily Russell. "We had an opportunity to end the game early but didn't take advantage in game one. in game two we scored early and relaxed a little. We couldn't get off the field with two outs and that really burned us. We pitched well but gave up too many walks We need to respond tomorrow and I'm confident that we will."

LEE 8, MOLLOY 1
De Adder improved to 2-1 on the young season as she kept the Molloy Lions off balance throughout  game one to lead the Lady Flames to an 8-1 win.

The freshman from Maple Ridge, British Columbia allowed just one run over 5.1 innings. She gave up three hits, worked around five walks and struck out a pair. Stevie Baird cleaned up the final 1.2 innings in relief.

The Lady Flames exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to break the game open. Bailey Church, off to a sizzling start through the first seven games this season with a .)) OPS, delivered the big low with a three-run triple. Zoe Miller added the other extra base hit with a second inning double and scored three runs.

Lee got on the board with two runs in the second thanks to a squeeze bunt by Baird followed by a steal of home by senior Claudia Jones.

Courtney Greene (0-1) was hit with the loss for the New York club as she gave up seven runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings in the circle. Only three of the runs were earned however thanks to three errors by the Lions. Tonianne Larson came on to pitch the final 3.1 innings and gave up one unearned run while striking out five.

Adrianna Saab delivered the lone run for Molloy via a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. 

LEE 2, FLORIDA TECH 7

Florida Tech erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run third inning and added three more insurance runs in the sixth to hand the Lady Flames a 7-2 loss in game two on Friday.

Shonna Penney (1-2) went the distance in the circle for the Lady Flames and gave up seven runs, five earned over seven innings. Penney allowed just five hits but was hurt by four walks and two wild pitches.

Vanessa Ruby drew a bases loaded walk to get the scoring started for the Panthers in the third frame. A wild pitch, passed ball and fielder's choice would bring the other three runs home. All totaled Florida Tech scored four runs on just two hits in the inning.

Melanie Murphy (1-2) earned the victory for the Florida club as she tossed four innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Tina Velazquez came on to work the final three innings in relief and did not allow a hit. 

Brooklynn Frazier doubled and single to account for two of Lee's five hits. Bailey Church, Abby McKinney and Kayla Louie also had one-base knocks. Louie scored the Lee's first one in the opening frame as she scored on a throwing error. The junior shortstop drove in the other Lady Flame run in the second innings as she singled up the middle to score Claudia Jones.