JESSA WATTS threw eight scoreless innings for the day, leading the Lady Flames to a sweep of No. 8 Brenau.
With the win, the 16th-ranked Lady Flames move to 30-5, in the top spot in the SSAC East Division at 9-1. Brenau falls to 22-7 and 9-3 in league play. The Lee ladies have now won 10 consecutive games heading into the SSAC Crossover tournament this weekend.
“This is a big week,” said Lee head coach Emily Russell. “With (Tuesday’s) games and the crossover coming up this weekend, we really needed to get these games and get ready for a big weekend.”
Jennifer Ringle and Kelsey Barnes were the hit leaders for the Lady Flames overall for the day, each turning in four hits. Barnes added five RBIs and Ringle scored three times.
The Lady Flames relied on the big inning in game one, scoring all six of their runs in the bottom of the third inning. Brenau countered with two in the fourth and one in the fifth off Lee starter Brittany Balough. Jessa Watts came on to strike out the side in the seventh to earn her second save of the season.
Ringle and Barnes both went 2-for-3 in the contest, each scoring a run, with Barnes knocking in two. Ana Coscorrosa provided the biggest blow, drilling a grand slam as a part of the big third inning. Savanna Bell, Tabitha Farrow, and Dominique Hannah each added one of the eight Lee hits.
Balough moves to 16-1 with the win, allowing three runs, two of them earned, in six innings. The Golden Tigers left 10 runners on base, compared to just three for the Lee ladies.
“Brittany didn’t have her best stuff, but she pitched well enough to win. She got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth,” added Russell.
Lana Lazar and Jenny Shepard each had a pair of hits for Brenau. Anna Maness worked all six innings, striking out four and walking one to fall to 10-3.
Watts picked up where she left off in game one, pitching the complete game, three-hit shutout in the nightcap, to move to 11-3 on the season. Watts struck out eight and walked two.
“Jessa really set the tone for game two with her closing the first game. I am really proud that we cut back on the errors in game two (three in game one, one in game two) and we hit the ball well,” said Russell.
Charlie Wooden showed the power in the second game, drilling a pair of home runs and totaling three RBIs. Barnes tied Wooden with a team high three runs batted in, while Ringle scored twice.
Jenny Shepard started for Brenau and worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits to fall to 9-3.
The Lady Flames will compete in six games as a part of Crossover Weekend in Columbus, Ga., Thursday through Saturday. Friday and Saturday’s noon Lee contests will be broadcast with a live video stream available at www.ihigh.com/ssacsports.
