After dropping a 4-2 decision to visiting Southern Wesleyan on Friday night, Lee dodged a bullet in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader and then went on to coast to a solid victory in the nightcap. While the Flames were taking 2-of-3 from SWU, Faulkner was also winning 2-of-3 against SPSU, leaving the Lee one game in front of the Eagles in the important loss column.

LEE 3, SOUTHERN WESLEYAN 2

The Flames appeared to be in deep trouble in Saturday's opening game as the Warriors struck for two runs in the first inning and then left-handed pitcher Tim O'Callaghan held the Lee hitters at bay until the bottom of the fifth inning when his defense let the crafty hurler down.

The Flames scored three runs in the inning on two hits and took advantage of three big SWU errors.

The rally started with two outs when Mark Silva reached on an error. Cameron Brewster made the Warriors pay with a double down the right-field line. The ball was bobbled by the right-fielder and Silva made it a 2-1 game. Brandon Rader followed with a single that scored Brewster and the contest was deadlocked. The final, and what turned out to be the winning run, came on a error off the bat of Brady Renner and allowed Rader to score.

"We were fortunate to be able to overcome the pitching of O'Callaghan," said coach Mark Brew. "For the second straight game, Southern Wesleyan had out-played us at that point but the breaks came our way and we were able to capitalize."

The Flames made the best of only four hits off O'Callaghan, who pitched 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked five.

Jose Samayoa (9-1) picked up the win for the Flames. He hurled five innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs. The right-hander struck out six and walked three. David Eskew and Andy Hillis came on and each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Hillis picked up the save, his seventh of the year.

Rader was the only Flame with two hits.  Thomas Floyd had and JJ Julian had two hits apiece for the losers.

LEE 11, SOUTHERN WESLEYAN 1 (8 Innings)

The final game of the three-game series was an entirely different story. The Flames rode a 13-hit attack and seven solid innings of pitching from Keegan Yuhl to the 11-1 run-rule victory over the Warriors.

Coach Mark Brew called it the best pitching effort of the year by Yuhl. "He had command of his breaking ball and that was something that (Myles) Smith and (Jose) Samayoa did not have." Yuhl allowed only four hits, striking out seven and issuing two free passes. Alex Moore came on to pitch the eighth.

The Flames got off to a quick start in the first inning when Brady Renner singled and later scored on the first of three hits by Derrick Pitts. A solo home run in the third by Josh Silver made it a 2-0 game.

Lee blew the contest wide open in the fourth when Pitts ripped a double to the base of the wall in centerfield. Roberto Duran drilled a double to left-center that scored Pitts and Corey Davis stroked a single that pushed Duran across the plate. The final run of the inning came on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Silva that scored Davis.

Three more runs were posted in the sixth inning and it was Silver who delivered the key blow, knocking in two runs with a single. He finsihed the day with three RBI. The margin reached 9-0 in the seventh when Mike Fasolo got a one-base knock and later scored on Davis' second RBI hit of the day.

The game ended in the eighth inning when Silva started the two-run rally with a hit. A pair of walks loaded the bases and Jordan Stewart collected an infield hit and a RBI. Pitts climaxed an outstanding day with a rope down the right-field line that the SWU outfielder did not even give chase. Renner tallied the game-ending score.

"We had a much better approach at the plate in the final game and it paid off," said Brew. "I think our guys understand that on any given night a team can beat you and we can't afford to let our guard down."

While Yuhl improved to 3-0 on the year, Matt Arant (1-2) was the losing SWU pitcher. Southern Wesleyan did not have a hitter with more than one hit and Joe Taylor collected the Warriors' only RBI.

The Flames will return to non-conference action on Tuesday and face Bryan College in Dayton at 6 p.m. They will return to Olympic Field on Wednesday and host Tennessee Temple in a single nine-inning contest.