The Lee softball team used two big first innings to complete a doubleheader sweep of visiting Carson-Newman on Wednesday afternoon from Butler Field.

Behind the steady arms of Lulu Vasquez and Shonna Penney the Lady Flames kept an Eagles team off balance all day long. Vasquez (3-2) struck out 11 in earning the game one win, 4-1 while Penney (3-0) sat down five and went the distance for a 7-3 in the nightcap.

Lee improves to 7-4 on the year and has now won three straight contests. The losses drop the Eagles to 5-3. The Lady Flames will now embark on a 12-game road trip. Lee will finally return to Butler Field on Mar. 13 to host a three-game series with West Florida.

GAME 1 – LEE 4 CN 1
Vasquez got all the run support she would need in the bottom of the first inning as the Lady Flames struck for three runs off Lacie Rinus.

Sophomore first baseman Taylor De Adder stayed red hot at the dish with a two-run single to give Lee the advantage after Kayla Louie and Lily Hatcher started the game off with a pair of singles. Brooklynn Frazier capped the rally with a run-scoring double.

From there Vasquez settled in as the junior hurler allowed just one run on six hits. She fanned 11 batters while walking pair. Vasquez lowered her season ERA to 2.16 and has now struck out 46 batters in just 35.2 innings pitched.

Carson-Newman's lone run came on a Taylor Scott single in the seventh inning. Mary Vandergriff scored after doubling to start the inning. Rinus (3-1) suffered her first loss of the season in the circle for the Eagles. She pitched three innings allowing four runs on six hits.

GAME 2 – LEE 7 CN 3
The Lee offense got going early once again in game two and Penney made the lead hold as the Lady Flames completed the sweep with a 7-3 victory over Carson-Newman. Penney scattered seven hits and two walks to earn the victory.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead the Eagles chipped away and cut the lead to one at 3-2 on an Abby Fiessinger.  

The Lady Flames fired back with a four-run fifth to put the game out of reach. Taylor De Adder doubled home Louie to start things off. After two quick outs the Lee loaded the bases and Bailey Church delivered a bases-clearing double to extend the advantage.

Makayla McCarthy (0-2) did not record an out before being lifted for Morgan Baker-Celis in the first inning. Baker-Celis settled things down until the four-run fifth. She allowed four runs on four hits, walked three and struck out three.