Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FLORENCE, S.C..- The Lee University softball team dropped two games to Francis Marion University on Tuesday afternoon. The Patriots won the first game 8-0 and hung on to win game two 10-8. With the loss, the Lady Flames have lost five games in a row and are now 9-9 on the season.
 
GAME 1
 
It was slow going for both teams as Francis Marion had the only hit in the first two innings. In the bottom of the third FMU broke the game open. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases before Taylor Watford hit a grand slam to make it 4-0 game.
 
It was the fifth inning before the Lady Flames got a base runner. Laney Harris and Annalynn Ormsby each had a single and then both got into scoring on a passed ball, but both teams were left stranded. 
 
FMU ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with four more runs. Two singles, two walks, a passed ball, and two wild pitches allowed four more runs to come across and FMU took game one by a final score of 8-0.
 
Lee only managed two hits in the contest from Harris and Ormsby. Alaina Watson (1-4) received the loss, going two and one-third innings giving up two runs on one hit. Hayden Gardner went two and one-third innings in relief and gave up six runs on three hits. Katie Willoughby also pitched walking one batter.
 
GAME 2
 
The second game started off strongly for Lee. Alexa Scalzo had a single to lead it off and advanced to second on an error. Javaria Smith walked, and Bella Galloway singled to load the bases for Lee. Ashley Fields drove in Scalzo with a single but that was all the Lady Flames could muster as they left the bases loaded in the first. The Patriots answered with three runs in the bottom of the first as two singles, an error, and sacrifice fly plated the runs.
 
The Lady Flames tied the game in the top of the third when Galloway smashed a ball over the right field fence. She drove in Smith to tie the game at 3-3. Francis Marion retook the lead in the bottom of the third behind another two-run home run from Watford.
 
Lee tied the game again in the fourth inning. Ava Perkins led the inning off with a walk, Scalzo then got on with via an error. A double steal from Scalzo and Perkins with an error allowed Perkins to steal home. Hailey Simco then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Scalzo home and tie the game at 5-5.
 
Francis Marion again took the lead in the bottom of the fourth using three singles to score a run. The Patriots added to the lead with a two separate two-run singles to lead it 10-5 after the fifth inning. Lee got two runs back in the sixth as Marquila Howell doubled and then was driven home by Simco. She then scored when Harris drove her in. Lee added one more run in the top of the seventh when Ormsby scored on an obstruction. However, the game ended when Galloway struck out with the bases loaded.
 
Scalzo was 3-for-5 hitting in game two with two runs scored and a run batted in. Simco and Galloway each added two RBI. Abigail Welbaum took the loss going two and two-thirds innings giving up five runs on six hits. Olivia Tyson started the game and went three and one-third innings giving up five runs on six hits while striking out four.
 
The Lady Flames will return home for a weekend Gulf South Conference series against Auburn University Montgomery. Game one of the series is scheduled for 5 PM om Friday, March 15.

Coach Emily Russell's Thoughts"

"We got to play two good teams this week. We got to get out and get uncomfortable."

"We learned a lot that will help us moving into the next segment of our schedule. We are striving to be more consistent and embracing doing hard things."