NEW ORLEANS, La. - There was nothing "small" about Lee's two wins over host University of Loyola (New Orleans) on Friday. In the 8-2, 11--0 victories over the Wolf Pack, the red-hot Flames pounded out 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs, six doubles and one triple.
This past Wednesday Lee had to play "small ball" in pulling out a 4-3 extra-inning win over rival Tennessee Wesleyan. The Flames make sure none of that was necessary on Friday.
Combining the hitting totals with two more impressive showing by the Lee pitchers and it is easy to see why the NAIA coaches' poll ranked the Flames No. 1. They will take a 29-7 record into the final game of the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. EDT.
"We did a great job offensively and that may have had a lot to do with the fact that it was the best day we have played all year," said Lee coach Mark Brew.
GAME TWO, Lee 11, Loyola 0 (8 Innings)
Josh Silver and Mark Silva carried the big sticks to the dish and Jose Samayoa (7-1) pitched six innings of one-hit ball as the Flames defeated the Wolf Pack in eight innings.
Silver and Silva combined to help account for seven of Lee's 11 runs. Silver, who homered in the first game, came back with his second jack shot in the nightcap. He also socked a triple and added a single in four trips to the plate. All totaled the Lee shortstop collected four RBI and scored three times.
Silva, the second baseman, went deep with a two-run shot. He also picked up a single and finished with a pair of runs batted in and two runs scored. Brady Renner joined the explosion with a double, single and two runs. Karsten Strieby chipped in with a two-base blow and Derrick Pitts had an RBI hit.
Samaoya was in complete command over six innings. He struck out 11 and walked one. David Eskew and CJ Lusted worked an inning each. Neither allowed a hit. Eskew fanned one and walked two. Lusted had two struck outs. Carmelo LoSauro had the only hit for the New Orleans club.
"Samayoa was awesome and in total control in game two," pointed out Brew. "Our bullpen did an excellent job in both games and our defense was solid again today."
GAME ONE, Lee 8, Loyola 2
Paced by two-run homers off the bats of Josh Silver and Derrick Pitts, the No. 1-ranked Lee Flames opened a three-game series with the University of Loyola (New Orleans) on Friday with an 8-2 victory.
After the Wolf Pack jumped on top 1-0 in the first, Lee garnered the lead for good in the top of the third. Mark Silva, who finished the contest with a pair of two-base hits, got the rally going with a double. Brandon Rader stroked an RBI single and scored on the two-run blast by Silver. It was his first round-tripper of the season.
Loyola tallied another single run in the third to cut the margin to 3-2, but Lee countered right back with a three-run fourth. Corey Davis, who joined Silva with a pair of two-base knocks, ripped a two-bagger. Pitts drove home Davis with his fifth home run of the season. Karsten Strieby walked and rounded the bases on Silva's second double.
Two more runs in the fifth sealed the deal for winning pitcher Myles Smith (7-2). Danny Canela was hit by a pitch and Davis struck again with his second double that scored Trevor Burgess, who was running for Canela. Davis later scored on an error, giving the Flames the 8-2 margin.
Smith worked five innings. He gave up five hits, one earned run, fanned eight and walked three. Kyle Briner pitched the sixth and Alex Moore hurled the final inning. Both gave up one hit, did not walk a batter and had one strike out. "Smith wasn't at his best in the opener, but he did a good job competing." noted Brew.
Kevin Lindsey was the starting and losing Wolf Pack pitcher. In five innings he allowed eight hits, seven earned runs, had two K's and walked one. Brandon Snow was the only Loyola player with more than one hit.
"It's a big game tomorrow," Brew stressed. "Anytime you have a chance to sweep on the road it's big and we have that opportunity in front of us."
