CLEVELAND, Tenn. –The Lee University softball team let a late lead slip away and fell to Shorter University 6-3 on Friday evening at Butler Field. The Lady Flames held a 3-1 lead but allowed five runs to come across home plate in the sixth and seventh innings. After the game, the Lady Flames honored three seniors, Caroline Pattison, Breanne Patton, and Sydney Piattoni.
Lee scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. Ana Macha led off with a single. She made it to third base when she stole second and the ensuing throw from the Shorter catcher went into center field. Annalyn Ormsby followed that up with a double to score Macha. Alexa Scalzo singled to score Ormsby.
The third and final run came from Scalzo in the third inning. She laid down a bunt and made it safely to first with a single. On the throw to try get Scazlo out at first, the catcher for Shorter threw it all the way down the first base line into the corner of the right field fence. Scalzo hustled around the bases to score an unearned run to give a 3-0 lead.
Shorter scored their first run in the top of the fourth. The Lady Hawks used a double and a single to score Taylor Phillips. Shorter's second run came in the sixth when Colbi Ballard reached safely at first base on an errant throw from Kylie Bohl at third base for the Lady Flames. That allowed Phillips to score again. Two batters later, Paytn Cripps reached on another error from Bohl and Kaylee George scored to tie the game.
The Lady Hawks took the lead in the top of the seventh when a third error from Bohl allowed Carlee Graham to score the go ahead run. Payton Tuder made it a three-run lead when she doubled to center field and brought home two more runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Ormsby got on base but the Lady Flames could not get a run across and fell 6-3.
Shorter out hit the Lady Flames 11-10 in the contest. Natalie Pruitt took the loss for the Lady Flames giving up six runs but only two were earned. Macha was 3-for-4 from the plate in the loss while Ormsby and Scalzo each had two hits.
Lee will wrap up the regular season with a double header on Saturday, April 29 at Butler Field beginning at 2 PM.
