JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University Softball team swept the day taking both games in the doubleheader against Lady Flames of Lee University. Union opened up Gulf South Conference play Saturday afternoon at Fesmire Field. Union won the first game 6-5 and took the second game 6-1. Union improved to 4-6 overall and 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference. Lee fell to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in league play.

In the first game, Lee struck first when Taylor De Adder hit into a fielder's choice scoring Carissa Frost. Later in the inning, Lee plated two more after Javaria Smith scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Annalyn Ormsby, and De Adder scored on a double hit by Kylie Bohl making the score 3-0 at the end of the first. Lee went on to plate one in the second and one in the third making the score 5-0 after the third. In the fourth inning, Mackenzi David hit a grand slam, pulling Union to within one after the fourth. Macey Neal added a long ball to her stat line evening up the score at five each in the bottom of the sixth. Idalia Alarcon laid down a suicide squeeze to score Fallon Groves in the bottom of the sixth, giving Union its first lead at 6-5. Macey Neal led Union with two hits, one being a home run. David led Union in RBI's with four after her grand slam. Olivia Baker started in the circle for Union she threw 5.2 innings allowing three hits, one run, and two walks. Baker had six strikeouts and received her first win as a starter. Kira Finkley would come into pitch in relief. She threw 1.1 innings earning two strikeouts, allowing four hits, four runs, and one walk.

In the second game, Lee scored first in the third inning when Rylie Goodridge sent a solo shot over the left-center wall. Union answered back in the bottom of the third as Alyssa Ward hit an infield single to the shortstop, both Bayleigh Carneal and Idalia Alarcon came in to score on the throwing error by the shortstop. With Union leading two one going into the fourth, the bats stayed hot as Macey Neal scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Mackenzi David in the fourth. In the fifth Union plated another as Morgan Jennings scored on a single hit by Grace White. In the bottom of the sixth Union plated two more as Fallon Groves scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Idalia Alarcon, and David scored on an error when Morgan Jennings reached on an error to the second basemen. The final score of the second game was Union 6, Lee 1. Reese Taylor started in the circle for Union earning her third win of the season. She earned 4 strikeouts through 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, one run, and two walks. Laken DiStefano earned her first save of the season throwing 2.2 innings earning six strikeouts, allowing one hit, no runs, and one walk.

Up next for Union is the final game of the three-game series against Lee University. This game will take place Sunday, Feb 20 at 1:00 p.m. at Fesmire Field.

-UNION-