JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Big innings for the Lee University softball team proved to be the difference in a double header sweep of Carson Newman University on Wednesday afternoon. In game one, Lee scored 12 runs in the sixth inning on the way to a 16-7 win. Then in game two, the Lady Flames scored six runs in the fourth to help give Lee a 11-5 win. The sweep moved Lee to 4-1 on the year while CNU fell to 3-2.
Game 1
CNU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by Mari Robbins. The Lady Flames answered right back in the top of the third with two runs. A single from Ana Macha set up a two-run home run from Hailey Simco to give Lee the 2-1 lead.
Brooklyn Lucero tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run for CNU. Lee retook the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs. Ava Perkins led the inning off with a solo shot to center field. After a walk for Macha, Javaria Smith drove her home with a triple.
The lead traded hands again in the bottom of the fifth. CNU used seven hits to plate five runs and take a 7-5 lead going into the fourth. However, the Lady Flames exploded for 12 runs in the top of the sixth and shut the door in game one. 11 hits and an error helped score the 12 runs. Alyson Jarvi started the rally. Macha and Simco each had a RBI to give Lee the 8-7 lead. Smith then had a two RBI single to make it 10-7.
After a Carson Newman pitching change. Bella Galloway had a RBI single as did Natalie Toups. Perkins then had a two RBI double to make it 13-7. After yet another pitching change, Scalzo had a two RBI double, and Rylee Price had a RBI to give Lee the 16-7 advantage. Madison Barnett shutdown CNU in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early.
Barnett got the start for Lee, and she threw five and one-third innings and gave up five runs on eight hits and had three strikeouts. Alaina Watson got the win as she threw two thirds of an inning and gave up two runs on four hits.
Eight of the nine Lady Flames registered a hit in game one. Eight also drove in a run. Simco, Smith and Perkins each had three RBI in the win. Macha and Perkins also each scored three times.
Game 2
Lady Flames got on the board first in the top of the first when Smith drove Macha in with a single. SieAnna Cameron and Hayden Dye tied the game up in the bottom of the first with a double steal as Cameron stole home. Kennedy Warder gave CNU the lead in the bottom of the second with a solo home run. The Eagles doubled the lead in the bottom of the third with Santana Anderson drove Dye home with a single.
Lee retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Galloway started the inning off with a solo home run to left center field. Then the Lady Flames managed to get the bases loaded. Macha singled up the middle and scored Perkins and Toups to give the Lee again. The next batter, Simco doubled off the left field wall to score Macha and Scalzo and Lee led 7-3.
Warder got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when she hit her second solo home run of the game. The Lady Flames added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth when Jarvi hit her second home run of the day. Layne Bailey entered the game in the bottom of the fifth to pitch for Lee. The very first batter she faced hit a solo home run. After that, she got three straight outs.
The last two runs of the game came for Lee in the top of the sixth. Simco had a sacrifice fly to score Scalzo and Smith drove in Macha. Bailey gave up just three more hits and shut the door on the CNU comeback as Lee won11-5.
Natalie Pruitt-Geesey earned her third win of the season. She went four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out two. Layne Bailey picked up her second save of the year with a three innings of relief. She stuck out one and gave up four hits and one run.
Macha led the way with three hits, three runs, and two RBI in game two. Simco picked up three more RBI in game two which gave her six in the two games.
In the two games, Lee hit five home runs, one triple, and five doubles.
Lee will return home for a weekend series against Cedarville University. They will play in a double header on Friday, February 7 at 2 PM. at Butler Field,
Coach Emily Russell's Thoughts:
"Going on the road is always tough and to get a sweep is a testament to the tenacity and resilience this team has. When we got down in game one, I challenged them to keep pushing and moving the needle forward. They responded in a big way and Madison Barnett coming back to close it out was a huge moment for her. In game two, we limited the damage from the homeruns and responded offensively again. Layne Bailey is as tough as nails. She came in and closed out game two and gave us a different look for their hitters. It was a good early test. Carson Newman is a very good team and it's a tough atmosphere."
