MONTEVALLO, Ala. --- It was a bitter-sweet Saturday for the Montevallo softball team. The Falcons dropped a pair of games against Lee University 14-10 and 8-4. However, with their win on Friday night, coupled with West Alabama's sweep of Delta State, the Falcons clinched a berth in the Gulf South Conference tournament. Meanwhile, the Falcons fell to 23-19 and 13-12 in the GSC, while the Flames improved to 26-19 and 16-10 in the conference. 

Next Up: The Falcons welcome 2nd-ranked Auburn University of Montgomery for a non-conference twilight doubleheader on Tuesday at Orr Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

GAME 1

Pitching
Kaylee Hawkins (6-7) took the loss for the Falcons. She started the game and pitched 2 1/3 innings. She surrendered five runs on six hits. She also had a walk.   

Falcons Leaders
Sierra Easterwood finished the game with three hits, including her 18th home run of the season. Taylor Robinson also hit a homer, her 10th, and had four RBIs. Hannah Carey was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Alisha Lanyon had two hits and scored three runs.

Key Plays:

1st Inning
The Flames came out swinging, scoring three runs on four hits to take an early lead. The Falcons got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning when Alisha Lanyon scored on a ground out by Taylor Robinson.

3rd Inning
The Falcons defense had issues, committing two errors that led to three Lee runs and a 6-1 deficit. In the bottom of the inning, Sierra Easterwood went yard for the 18th time in 2022, cutting the Lee lead to 6-2.

5th Inning
Lee added three more runs on an RBI double by Laney Harris and a 2-run home run by Shelby Cole, making the score 9-2. The Falcons answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Robinson had a 3-run homer and Kinley Adams added a 2-run single with the bases loaded.

6th Inning
Lee responded with a pair of runs to extend their lead to 11-7.

7th Inning
The Flames built a commanding 14-7 lead with three more runs. The Falcons mounted a rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs, but could not close the gap.

GAME 2

Pitching
Mychael McMillan fell to 11-5 after taking the loss. She pitched four innings, allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits. She had a strikeout and issued one free pass. 

Falcons Leaders
The Falcons were held to six hits in the game. Carlee Mullinax and Kinley Adams had two hits apiece. Mullinax had a double. Sierra Easterwood also had a double and three RBIs.

Key Plays:

1st Inning
The Falcons struck first, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by Sierra Easterwood. 

3rd Inning
Lee tied the game when a base-hit by Ana Macha was misplayed by left fielder Georgia Hughes, allowing Breanna Patton to score from first base. The Flames added two more runs to take a 3-1 lead.

4th Inning
Patton added to the Lee lead with an RBI double, making it 4-1 Flames.

5th Inning
A 2-run homer by Lee designated player Sidney Lee increased the Flames lead to 6-1. The Falcons responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Two of the runs came on a 2-run double by Easterwood that cut the deficit to 6-4.

6th Inning
The Flames threatened to score another run when Sidney Lee doubled with Taylor De Adder on first. De Adder rounded third and headed to the plate but was cut down on a perfect relay from left fielder Georgia Hughes, to shortstop Hannah Carey to catcher Lauren Hamby, to beat the runner at the plate by three steps.

7th Inning
Lee added some insurance in the top of the inning on a 2-run homer by Alexa Scalzo.