Senior NiaRaye Ceasar homered and drove in two runs to help lead the Lee softball team to a 4-1 victory over Mississippi College on Sunday afternoon in the 2016 season finale.
Ceasar drilled a solo home run down the left field line in the fifth inning to give the Lady Flames a 3-1 cushion. In the seventh the native of Fairfield, Calif. ended her collegiate career with a RBI double to center field.
Sophomore Leigh Beatenbough (10-9) pitched a complete game in the circle for the Lady Flames.
Beatenbough allowed just one run on four hits and struck out pair while working around four walks.
Courtney Crawford, a junior-transfer from Chattanooga State, wrapped up her first year as a Lady Flame with two singles and finished hitting at a .347 clip.
Freshman Stevie Baird got the Lady Flames on the board in the first inning with a run-scoring single to center scoring Lexie Dean. Annabeth Pruett gave Lee the lead for good with a sacrifice fly in the fourth frame.
Rachel Polacek and Amanda Lynn also added singles. Dean was held hitless but drew a walk and scored two runs. The top three hitters in the lineup, Lynn (.414), Dean (.472) and Emily Dagnan (.411) all end the season hitting above .400.
The lone run of the game for the Choctaws would come on a solo home run by Tylan Buckley in the bottom of the second.
Carlie Sargent (17-10) was tagged with the loss for the Choctaws after earning the victory in both games of yesterday's doubleheader. Sargent allowed seven hits and four runs in seven innings. The senior walked three and struck out five.
Coach Emily Russell's club closed the season winning 11 of its final 13 contests and finish at 25-24-1 overall and 11-20-1 in league play. Mississippi College falls to 31-18 and 18-15 in the GSC.
The Lady Flames now hold a 7-2 advantage over the Choctaws in the all-time series. The two clubs appear set for a budding rivalry as Mississippi College is in the final year of the NCAA reclassification process and will be fully eligible for postseason play beginning next season