CLEVELAND, Tenn. -The Lee University softball team used timely hitting and solid pitching to earn a double header sweep against King University on Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Flames took game one 9-6 behind Madison Barnett's career high 11 strikeouts. In game two Lee continued to swing the bats well and won 9-1. The Lady Flames improved their record to 9-23 while King fell to 18-15.
GAME 1
King led the game off with a single from Jessica Campbell. Then two batters later, Carly Turner drove Campbell in to give King a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Annalyn Ormsby hit a double and then Sidney Lee hit her seventh home run of the season to make it 2-1.
The Lady Flames extended the lead in the bottom of the third. Ana Macha hit a single and then Ormsby had her second hit of the day to get on base. The next batter, Alexa Scalzo hit a three-run home run to make it a 5-1 lead. It was the fourth home run of the season for Scalzo.
The Lady Flames added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Macha led the inning off with a single and Scalzo was walked. Back-to-back singles from Javaria Smith and Sidney Lee brought in Macha. Alesandra Razo reached on a fielder's choice and the scored Scalzo to make it 7-1.
King clawed their way back into the game in the top of the sixth. Carly Tuner led the inning off with a solo home run. The Tornado had five more singles and a hit by a pitch to score five runs in the inning to make the score 7-6.
The Lady Flames scored two insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth as Laney Harris scored on a Macha single, Macha then scored the final run on an error from the second basemen for King.
The Lady Flames set a season high in the game with 14 strikeouts. It was most in a game since they had 16 against Bryan College on March 12, 2014. The 14 strikeouts was also the most ever against an NCAA Division II opponent. Madison Barnett had a career high 11 strikeouts in the win.
Macha was 3-for-4 in the win with three runs scored. Scalzo had three runs batted in and Lee had two RBI.
GAME 2
The Lady Flames scored early and often in the nightcap as they pounded out 13 hits to earn the run-rule shortened five-inning victory, 9-1.
King had a single to start the game from Jessica Campbell. She made it to third base but was left there. In the top of the second, King had two more hits but left the runners on base. Sidney Lee was walked to lead off the second inning. Javaria Smith and Alesandra Razo had back-to-back singles to score Lee. Rylie Goodridge was then walked to load the bases. That was followed up by a walk from Harris to bring in Smith and make it 2-0. Macha hit an infield single to score Razo to give Lee a three-run lead.
In the bottom of the third Goodridge drove in Smith to make it a 4-1 lead for the Lady Flames. King got a runner on base in the fourth but Harris made an over the shoulder catch and threw out the runner at first to turn a double play. The Lady Flames added another run in the fourth when Macha scored on a sacrifice fly from Sidney Lee.
The Lady Flames ended the game in the bottom of the fifth as Goodridge and Harris were walked to start the inning. Macha had in infield single to load the bases. Ormsby singled to bring in a run. That was followed by Scalzo's single to score two runs, and then Sidney Lee hit the winning single to score Scalzo.
Natalie Pruitt went the distance in the win in the circle for Lee. She went five innings and only gave up one unearned run on six hits and had three strikeouts. Macha had three more hits and two more runs scored in the win. Scazlo and Lee each had two RBI while Smith scored twice.
Head Coach Emily Russell was pleased with the win. "We didn't necessarily come in focused but we got there and we responded really well. We played with more intent in game two and played a better brand of softball."
Lee will head to the Peach State for a three game Gulf South Conference series with Valdosta State. The teams will have first pitch on Saturday, April 1 at 4 PM.
