CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Union University softball posted a weekend series victory at Lee University to open the 2015 Gulf South Conference season. Union won 4-3 in Friday's single game. The Lady Bulldogs then took the first game of Saturday's double-header 5-3 and lost to Lee 9-8 in a wild double-header finale. Union improved to 7-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee is 9-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Friday: Union 4, Lee 3
Lee jumped on top early with two runs in the first and after a run in the third, the Flames seemed to be on their way. However, Union took advantage of an error in the top of the six and scored four runs to take the lead. That led was good enough for senior pitcher
Kelly Robey who earned the win. She tossed a complete game with three runs, two earned, on four hits with 10 strikeouts. Union managed just two hits in the game, one each from Regan Schrader and
Alex Williams. Williams had a 2-RBI double.
Saturday, Union 5, Lee 3
Union again took advantage of a four-run inning, this time to strike first and take the lead. Union's big top of the third inning was capped with a 2-run home run from
Whitney Christian. A Schrader sacrifice fly and a double from
Carter Mansolino also produces RBI's in the frame. Lee responded with a run in the fifth, but Union got it back in the seventh to lead 5-1. In the bottom of the seventh, things got interesting for starter Robey as she loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and a single. Lee managed a pair of runs on an RBI single and a ground out. But Robey and Union stopped the damage there to hold on for the win. Robey again was strong, improving to 5-1 on the season with seven innings of work, allowing three runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts. Schrader, Williams and Christian led with hits each in the game.
Saturday: Lee 9, Union 8 (game 2)
Union scored in five of the seven innings, including a run in the first. But Lee responded with four in the second to take the lead. Union added a run in the third, four more in the fourth, and a run in the fifth to lead 7-4. However, another four run inning for Lee put the Flames up 8-7. Union tied the game in the top of the six, but Lee scored a game-winning tally in the bottom of the seventh to avoid being swept. Union's Schrader, Williams and
Caylee Crews each led with two hits. Williams led with three RBI.
Emily Bennett, Schrader and Crews each led with two runs scored each.
Alex Williams started for Union, going 4.1 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Robey tossed the final 2. 1 innings, allowing three runs on one hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
Union will be home this coming weekend for a 3-game conference series with Mississippi College. Live coverage of the games can be found at
www.uuathletics.com/live.
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