CLEVELAND, Tenn.- On an immensely windy Saturday afternoon, the Lee University Lady Flames softball team split with the Christian Brothers University Buccaneers softball team in a Saturday doubleheader matchup. Senior pitcher Madison Barnett, who is currently fighting cancer, threw the first pitch and got things started for the day. The Lady Flames took game one with a final score of 8-0. However, in game two, the Buccaneers scored five runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and ultimately win 7-3.
Game 1
The first inning started off slow for both teams offensively. Both teams did well pitching wise with getting quick outs in both the top and bottom of the inning. Even with a little bit of a slow start offensively for the Lady Flames, the game eventually became more balanced with the help of four runs being scored in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore pitcher Olivia Tyson had an outstanding game. She started early with a strike out of the second hitter in line in the top of the first inning. Continuing throughout the game, she struck out four more hitters. This almost matched her career high. Earlier in the season, she struck out six hitters in the matchup against Wingate University.
In the third inning the Flames took advantage of the Buccaneers mistakes. The Lady Flames scored four runs by Hailey Simco, Javaria Smith, Bella Galloway, and Alyson Jarvi. The runs by Galloway and Jarvi were both unearned. The Buccaneers could not find a groove pitching wise. Both pitchers allowed a total of seven walks on the day.
After game one, junior infielder Alexa Scalzo imprpoved to 20-20 on stolen bases this season.
Game 2
Similar to the first game of the doubleheader, game two started off slow offensively. Both pitchers threw extremely well, with the Lady Flames striking out back to back hitters and CBU getting Lee's Annalyn Ormsby, Marquila Howell, and Shelby Cole out.
Throughout the game, it seemed as if the Lady Flames had this game won, especially going into the sixth inning with Scalzo scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, due to the Lady Flames having pitching struggles later in the game, the Buccaneers were able to score five runs in the seventh inning alone, making the score 7-3. Similarly to Lee in game one, the CBU were able to take advantage of the errors of the Lady Flames defense. Tyson struggled after coming into replace the freshman pitcher Abigail Welbaum. Lee had a chance in the bottom of the seventh inning to make a tough but possible comeback, needing four more runs to tie and five to win. However, junior pinch hitter Kadyn Smith struck out, Scalzo, and Smith both getting out on ground balls the Lady Flames came up short.
The Lady Flames will look to take the series against CBU on Sunday March 24 at 1:00 p.m.
Coach Emily Russell's Thoughts
"It was awesome to see Madison and here family today we haven't seen them in a few weeks and it is tough on her and it is tough on us. They are family and she is a big part of what we do. We know what she is going through so to have her and celebrate her was great. All the perspective she has now that she can bring the team is awesome."
"One of the challenges we face is thinking oh we got it now. The lesson we learned today is we have to get it."
