JACKSON, Tenn.- Javaria Smith hit the go-ahead homerun in the sixth and then drove in the game winning run in the eighth inning to give Lee University the 4-3 win over Union University on Friday evening to open the crucial Gulf South Conference series. Union sits in eighth place in the conference while Lee is ninth. With the win, the Lady Flames are now 16-21 and 10-12 in GSC action and sit just one game behind the Lady Bulldogs.
 
Union scored two runs in the bottom of the first as Macey Neal and Brooke Puckett each had a RBI. After that, neither team scored a run until the sixth. In fact, both teams only managed two base runners from the second until the sixth inning.
 
Lee took the lead in the sixth. Alexa Scalzo got on with a bunt single. Then Hailey Simco hit a double to right center field to bring Scalzo home. Smith drilled a homerun to center field to give Lee the 3-2 lead.
 
Union responded in the sixth with a solo home run from Puckett. Both teams went down in order in the seventh. Lee scored the go ahead run in the eighth. Simco had a double down the left field line and Smith singled up the middle to score Simco. Oiliva Tyson then sat the Lady Bulldogs down in order to give Lee the win.
 
Tyson went the complete game to earn her tenth win of the year. She gave up three runs on three hits with six strikeouts. It is the third game in a row she has had six or more strikeouts. Lee out hit Union 5-4 with Simco and Smith each getting two hits apiece.
 
The Lady Flames will face UU in a double header in Jackson beginning at 2 PM EST.
 
Coach Emily Russell's Thoughts:
 
"That's a big win on the road. Olivia threw well and kept us in the game. Offensively we competed and got quality at bats throughout the game. It was a big team win."