JACKSON, Miss.- The Lee baseball team used a 3-run ninth to open their weekend series with a 6-2 win over Belhaven University Friday night.
The victory moves the third-ranked Flames to 18-2 on the year and a perfect 7-0 in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). The loss drops Belhaven to 11-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
Jose Samayoa (4-0) pitched seven strong innings to lead the Flames. The senior gave up just one unearned run in the first inning and finished with nine strike outs. Samayoa displayed pin point control not giving up a free pass to the Blazers. Lee pitchers combined to walk just one batter in the game.
“It was a good team win.” noted Head Coach Mark Brew. “Samaoya threw great and our bullpen was good enough.”
After the Blazers struck for an unearned run in the first the Flames responded with two runs in the second. The pitching settled in from there until Danny Canela ‘s seventh inning single drove in Josh Silver to give Lee a 3-1 advantage.
Belhaven answered with a run in the eighth off reliever Alex Moore to cut the lead to 3-2. Moore walked one and struck out one in his inning of work. The Flames would respond in the ninth inning with three insurance runs. The rally was capped by a two-run single from Silver. The Lee shortstop finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Andy Hillis worked the ninth inning for the Flames. Hillis struck out a batter retiring the side in order to secure the Lee victory.
The Lee offensive attack pounded out ten hits in the contest. Josh Stewart added two hits and scored two runs. Canela had a pair of hits and drove in two. Mark Silva chipped a RBI single and scored once.
Jonathan Thompson started on the mound for Belhaven. Thompson worked six innings surrendering four hits and one earned run. He struck out five and walked one. The Flames scored four runs off Blazer relievers in 2 1/3 innings
.
“Belhaven did a great job holding our offense down until late. It will be a tough day tomorrow.” acknowledged Brew. “Temperature isn’t supposed to rise above 43 all day.”
Lee and Belhaven will continue their three game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch of the SSAC doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m.
