Hattiesburg, Miss. - Coach Mark Brew and his third-ranked Lee baseball Flames will attempt to put a third-inning defensive lapse behind them and get back on the winning track when they play the final two games of an important SSAC three-game series on Saturday at Milton Wheeler Field.
Host William Carey University (17-6, 9-1) took advantage of Lee's two errors, a passed ball, a wild pitch and proceeded to score six runs with two outs in the third frame in pinning an 8-2 defeat on the 19-4, 8-2 Flames. In the nine-inning affair, Lee was guilty of four costly errors.
Coach Brew was a man of very few words after the loss." It was a disappointing day," he said. "We struggled offensively and defensively all day. If we don't improve our competitiveness and mental toughness tomorrow we are in for another long day."
The Crusaders got a complete game from pitcher Jake Fabre (3-2). He scattered seven hits, struck out 14 Lee hitters and walked just one.
The Flames sent five hurlers to the mound. Myles Smith (4-2) started and was lifted when Lee struggled on defense in the third. All totaled he allowed four hits, no earned runs, walked two and fanned two.
Keegan Yuhl, CJ Lusted, David Eskew, Jeremy Bales and Ryan Zimmer also pitched in the loss. Yuhl had three solid innings. In three innings he gave up one earned run, surrendered two hits, send four WCU batters down on strikes, but walked three.
Lee's only two runs came in the seventh inning. Karsten Strieby doubled and scored on a two-base knock by Derrick Pitts. Later in the inning Cameron Brewster plated Pitts on a sacrifice fly to left. Strieby was the only Flame with two hits. Brandon Rader, Brady Renner, Danny Canela and Brewster each singled.
The Crusaders got two hits from Mitch Bohon and Clint Ambrosch. Vito Perna doubled for WCU's only extra base hit, while Perna, Scott Fabre, Alex Lahasky and Tre Keyes each batted in a run.
Saturday's twinbill is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EST. Live stats are being provided on the William Carey website for those wishing to follow the action.
