CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The University of Montevallo softball team dropped the first game of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader at Lee University 4-2 on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons are now 10-11 on the year and 5-7 in GSC play.
 
UM could not get anything going in the first, going three-up three-down. Lee struck twice in the home half of the first, scoring an unearned run and one run off of an error.
 
Montevallo responded by tying it up in the top of the second with a two-run homer from Sierra Easterwood that made it a 2-2 game.
 
The Lady Flames threatened to score again in the second with runners on second and third with one out, but Mychael McMillan retired the side to leave the runners stranded.
 
Neither team had a baserunner in the third or fourth innings.
 
A two-out single from Fallon Groves in the top of the fifth gave UM a baserunner, but the Falcons could not bring her home.
 
Lee added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.
 
In the seventh, UM came extremely close to mounting a comeback. Easterwood and Lauren Hamby earned walks to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs and two on. Montevallo could not get any more offense going in the inning and left two stranded to end the game.
 
In 4.1 innings of work, McMillan allowed five hits, four runs (three earned) and struck out five. Mabry Norris finished the game in the circle for UM, pitching 1.2 innings while allowing one hit and striking out two.
 
Groves' and Easterwood's hits were the Falcons only two hits of the game.