BOTETOURT, Va. – Allison Barbee cranked her 12^th home run of the season but it wasn't enough as Lee scored multiple runs in four innings to defeat the Warriors 9-3 in the opening game for each team in the NCCAA National Tournament.

The Warriors entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed while Lee entered as No. 3. Both teams scored twice in the first inning before Lee took control with another two runs in the second. Barbee blasted her team leading 12^th bomb of the season in the third to pull within one but the Flames scored three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to put it out of reach.

After a strong start with three hits in the first inning, the Warriors managed just two more the rest of the way, both coming in the third.  Lizzie Fela collected two hits, both doubles.

Fela's first double came in the first to keep the rally going after Sara Sweatt got things going with a one-out single. Ashleigh Wilbur followed Fela with a single down the left field line to score both Sweatt and Fela and give the Warriors an early 2-0 lead. Fela also doubled following Barbee's homer in the third but a ground out and strike out behind her left Fela sitting at second.

The Flames made a pitching change after the third inning, bringing in Angie Hughes who shut down the Warriors. Hughes allowed just one base runner and retired the final 10 batters in a row. She improved to 17-7 on the season with the win. Hunter Hoskins took the loss for the Warriors, falling to 6-2 on the season. Hoskins allowed eight hits, seven runs, six earned and walked one in 4.1 innings.

SWU will enter the consolation bracket and will have to win five in a row to get back to Friday's championship game. The first hurdle will be Oklahoma Wesleyan later today (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Eagles fell to Mississippi College 10-1 in 5 innings earlier on Wednesday. Oklahoma Wesleyan entered the tournament as the No. 9 seed.