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Box Score 2 MASON, Ohio - Lee's hopes of claiming an NCCAA World Series Championship ended on Saturday evening with a 5-1 defeat to an extremely talented Fresno Pacific club. The Sunbirds (37-18) marched through the tournament with six straight victories.
The Flames completed the 2014 season with a 37-19 record, won 10-of-12 games, placed fourth in the highly competitive Gulf South Conference, and then came battling back to win pool play after losing to Toccoa Falls in the opening round of the World Series. In Saturday's semi-final opening game, the Flames defeated rival Shorter University 11-8 to earn the berth in the championship game against Fresno.
Cameron Brewster and Siosi Poti paced the Lee 14-hit attack. Brewster was 4-of-4 with a double, while Poti was 3-of-3 and scored two runs.
All totaled, Lee banged out 14 hits. Derrick Pitts collected three RBI and also ripped a double. Nathan Wierzgac had Lee's only other extra base hit, a two-bagger and he posted three RBI. Jordan Stewart pitched in with a couple of hits. He also scored once and knocked in a pair of runs.
The Flames were forced to use five pitchers to shut down the Shorter hitting attack. Jeremy Bales came on in a relief role and picked up the pitching win, while Pitts went to the mound in the eighth and ninth innings and posted the save.
Zack Santos swung the big bat for the losers. He stroked a triple in the second inning and finished with two hits and four RBI. The Hawks were aided most by Lee pitchers who walked 10 batters before finally getting the win.
In the championship game, the Sunbirds rode the two-hit pitching of Josh Medeles. The lefty took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before allowing a double to Zac Hawkins.
Lee scored its only run of the game in the eighth inning when Brewster doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. All totaled, Medeles allowed just two hits. He struck out four and walked four Lee hitters. JD Salles came on in the eighth inning and picked up the save.
A key moment came in the very first inning when Pitt ripped a long a long drive that appeared to be headed over the right-field fence. However, Fresno's. Kaohu Gaspar race to the wall, leaped high, and robbed Pitts of a home run. The play seemed to take the life out of an all ready tired Lee squad.
The Flames started CJ Lusted who went out in the first inning after suffering a leg injury. The Sunbirds opened the inning with a double by Baron Bowen and he scored on a wild pitch.
Fresno scored two insurance runs in the second and gave Medeles all the support he needed and after three solid innings by Lee reliever Ryan Zimmer, the Sunbirds tacked on two runs in the sixth.
Michael Hostelter was 4-of-4 for the winners. He scored a run and collected a RBI. Gaspara doubled and singled in the win.
Lee's Josh Silver was named to the all-tournament team as only one player was named from each team participating in the series.
"It was a britual schedule," admitted coach Brew. "We play a single game on Thursday and cam back to play back-to-back doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. "Don't take anything away from Fresno Pacific, they have several very talented athletics, but I would like to face them head-to-head with out best on the moumd. After theback to back-to-back doubleaders, with had to try and piece together our pitching staff."
