CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The University of West Alabama softball team defeated Lee University in electric doubleheader action, 6-4 and 24-15, at Butler Field on Saturday afternoon.
GAME 1: West Alabama 6, Lee 4
Javaria Smith got the Flames offense rolling early with an RBI single to right center, giving the home squad a 1-0 lead after a half inning.
Emily Cowart tied up the contest at one in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice bunt.
Excellent base running from Kelsie Gilliam and Gaddy Utsey gave the Tigers a 3-1 advantage in the top of the fourth inning.
Taylor Clegg scored run number four for UWA in the top of the fifth via a sacrifice bunt from Marissa Mitchell.
Lee closed the gap in the bottom of the inning to 4-3 with a pair of RBIs from Rylie Goodridge and Laney Harris.
Marissa Mitchell and Ann Marie Stanbridge stretched the West Alabama lead out to 6-3 with back-to-back solo homers in the top of the seventh.
The Flames closed the gap to 6-4 in the bottom of the inning with a Goodridge RBI double, but it wouldn't be nearly enough as the Tigers clinched the game one victory.
Marissa Mitchell led the way with two RBIs.
Riley Sullivan added two runs on two hits.
GAME 2: West Alabama 24, Lee 15
The Tigers exploded in the first two innings, scoring seven runs.
Ann Marie Stanbridge, Marissa Mitchell, and Taylor Clegg each hit home runs during the first two frames.
Alexa Scalzo cut the deficit to 7-2 in the second inning with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
The Flames went on a tear in the fourth inning, scoring nine runs in the stanza capped off by an Ava Perkins grand slam, taking the 11-7 lead.
West Alabama stormed back in the following inning with a six-run outburst.
Kelsie Gilliam began the scoring with a two-RBI single. Marissa Mitchell followed up with a grand slam to take back the lead, 13-11.
Lee answered with four RBIs in the fifth inning, capped off by an RBI single from Abygail Jarvi. Lee would reclaim the lead 15-13, as the UWA offense was down to its final six outs.
The Tigers put up six more runs in the top of the sixth. Clegg gave the Tigers back the lead for good with a two-RBI single.
UWA didn't consider taking their foot off the gas, scoring five more runs in the seventh inning to seal the deal courtesy of a Lee fielding error and Mitchell's third home run of the contest, a three-run rocket over the right field wall.
"Today was a battle. I'm proud of how our team responded at the plate. We had quality at-bats and executed well," said head coach Stephanie Defeo.
Mitchell led the way with a school record of eight RBIs, breaking the previous mark of seven held by Lydia North against Delta State in 2014.
The Tiger shortstop also tied the single-game home run record with three, joining Ashley Stassin (2016) and Shannon Goggins (2005), as the only West Alabama players to achieve the mark.
West Alabama recorded their 15th 20-run game in school history, coming just four runs short of the school record 28 against Miles in 2012.
West Alabama advances to 25-13 overall and 12-11 in Gulf South Conference play. Lee fell to 14-21 and 8-12.
The Tigers and Flames will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. EDT.
