CLEVELAND, Tenn. – It was a five run first inning for the Lee University softball team and they never looked back as the Lady Flames shutout Emmanuel University 7-0 in the opening game of the season. Eight Lady Flames got hits and did not have a single strikeout in the win.
 
The first inning saw 10 Lady Flames come to the plate. It started off with a walk for Alexa Scalzo. Hailey Simco got a hit, then Javaria Smith was walked to load the bases. Rylie Goodridge drove in the first run of the season with a single. Bella Galloway followed that up with a single as well. Alyson Jarvi was hit by a pitch and then Ava Perkins singled to score the final two runs of the inning.
 
Perkins scored a run in the fourth when Smith drove her in. The final run of the game for the Lady Flames came in the fifth when Jarvi was brought home by Scalzo.
 
Natalie Pruitt Geesey earned the win for Lee. She went six innings and gave up only four hits. She walked one and struck out one. In relief freshman Layne Bailey threw one inning.
 
Perkins led the way with two RBI in the win and had two hits. Goodridge had two hits as well.
 
The Lady Flames and Lions will play a double header on Sunday, February 2 at 1 PM to wrap up the series.