ROME -- The Hawks got off to a good start against longtime rival, Lee University, Saturday afternoon; sweeping the doubleheader to take the series. In the opener Shorter won, 2-0, and followed that with a 2-1 victory in the finale.

With the wins, the Hawks move to 17-10 on the season and 11-6 in conference play; while the Flames slip to 12-19 overall and 2-15 in the GSC.

Shorter took the lead in the Game 1 with a run in the first inning as Niki Cook reached on a single, stole second, and came in on a single up the middle from Kameron Carter. And, added to it with a run in the fourth when Taylor Ann Oda came in on a single from Cook, after reaching on a single to lead off the inning, for the 2-0 final score.

Payton Lippert recorded the win, to move to 8-6 on the season, with a complete game shutout. Through seven innings she allowed no runs on five hits with four strikeouts.

Cook and Carter each finished with two hits and an RBI for the Hawks; while Cook also added two stolen bases in the game.

In Game 2, Shorter once again took the lead in the first; this time scoring twice. Tiffany Holland got things started with a walk, and moved to second on a single from Carter, before both were brought in on a double from Ericka Bynum to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. The Flames struck for a run in the fourth, on a single from AnnaBeth Pruitt, but that was all they would get as Shorter held on for the win, 2-1.

Hannah Draper earned the win, her fifth of the season, pitching five innings; while allowing one run on six hits with four strikeouts. Kalei Kimbrell recorded her fourth save of the year, coming in for the final two innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts and a walk.

Cook added two more hits in Game 2 to record her 12th multi-hit game of the year; while Bynum tallied her third multi-RBI game of the year.

Shorter will look to earn the series sweep Sunday afternoon in the final game of the series set for 1:00pm at Alto Park.