ROME -- The Lady Hawks closed out the 2018 season Sunday afternoon with an 8-5 setback to longtime rival, Lee, at Alto Park.

With the loss, Shorter finishes the year with a 17-26 overall record and a 12-20 mark in conference play. While the Flames enter post season 27-27 overall and 15-18 in the GSC.

Lee got on the board first, scoring on back-to-back homeruns in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Before the Lady Hawks came back in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead in half as Abi Valdes scored on a throwing error by the Flames' shortstop.

Lee then countered in the third with five runs to pull away.

Only to have Shorter begin chipping away, cutting into the lead with two runs in the third for the 7-3 score. Maddie Hunt scored in the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Kaylee Combs, before Tiffany Holland came in on an RBI single from Valdes. The Lady Hawks then made it a two run game, 7-5, in the sixth with a pair of runs on four consecutive hits with two outs. Hunt again scored the first run, on a double to right center from Holland; who then scored on an RBI single from Carson Carriker.

Lee added a final run in the seventh for the 8-5 final score.

Hannah Draper took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. While, Payton Lippert added five innings of relief, allowing four runs – two earned – on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Hunt, Holland, Carriker and Valdes each finished the day with two hits apiece.