Lee University shortstop Jennifer Ringle has been named Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. The junior’s SSAC award is the first for a Lee softball player in 2012.

Ringle turned in an outstanding week offensively, drilling 11 hits in 15 at bats in the Lady Flames’ four wins. The Rio Vista, Calif., native turned in her best performance in game one against Point University (Ga.), Wednesday, going 4-for-4, including a grand slam and a double, totaling six RBIs and three runs scored.

All totaled for the week, Ringle tallied a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles, to go with a triple, nine runs scored and 10 runs batted in.

With the 4-0 week, the 15th-ranked Lee ladies move to 28-5 on the season, 7-1 in SSAC play. They will welcome 10th-ranked Brenau University this afternoon for a showdown between the two leading teams in the SSAC East Division. The doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. at Butler Field.

Lady Flame golfers

third after opening round

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Lee University golf team will have to battle from nine strokes back in order to bring home the championship of the SCAD Spring Invitational.

Northwood (Fla.) holds down the top spot after the first 18 holes (299) while host Savannah College of Art and Design is second (307), followed by the Lady Flames at 308. South Carolina-Beaufort is fourth at 311.

The 36-hole event is being played at the Wilmington Island Club and 10 top-notch NAIA programs and 56 individuals are taking part in the annual tourney.

The medalist honor is certainly up for grabs. The battle is a log jam and Lee's Courtney Shelton (74) is tied with two other golfers, Emelie Anderson (Northwood) and Mary-Michael Burns (SCAD) for third place. Marie Couffignal (Northwood) and Adriana Saayedra (South Carolina-Beauford) are the tourney leaders after posting 2-over par 73s on the par 71 layout.

Lee has four other golfers fighting for their share of the honors and hoping to help the Lady Flames stage a comeback on Tuesday. Geandra Almeida and Kristin Bourg (77) are tied for eighth. Madison Alexander is tied for 21st after posting an 80 and Sloane Skinner is tied for 23rd after an 81.

“I thought 308 was a pretty good round today,” said coach John Maupin. “We played six or seven holes ready well, but we hit a little lull in the middle of the round. I think we can get some shots back and make a run at it tomorrow.”