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Three was the magic number on Saturday as the Lee University baseball team concluded a three-game sweep of Union University. In game one of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) doubleheader, the Flames came from behind for a 3-2 win before winning the finale 3-1. Lee claimed the series opener Friday night, 2-0.

"Anytime you sweep a Gulf South series it is an accomplishment," said Lee head coach Mark Brew. "It's a nice start to our conference season."

The Flames improved to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in GSC play. Union fell to 0-8 (0-3 GSC). Lee is scheduled to host Bellarmine University Tuesday afternoon at 2.
 
FLAMES 3, UNION 1
Cameron Scott was 2-for-3 to lead the Lee offense that scored three runs on five hits. MJ Brown, Luke Toms and Nathan Wierzgac tallied one safety each.

Brown doubled in the fifth inning to score Scott for the eventual game-winning run. Wierzgac supplied an insurance run in the sixth innings with a sacrifice fly to plate Trenton Hill.

Siosi Poti put Lee on the board in the first inning. Poti walked, advanced to second on an Andres Nelo sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.  Union would knot the game at 1-1 via three walks and a hit batsman in the third inning.

Chevis Hoover started and picked up his second win of the season following five innings of one-hit ball. Hoover gave up one run, walked four and struck out 11.

Ryan Zimmer pitched the final two innings for his first save of the season. The senior surrendered two hits and fanned three.

"Hoover didn't have great command, but he did an excellent job competing. Zimmer did a phenomenal job keeping them off balance for the two-inning save. Offensively, Wierzgac had a nice game and did a great job behind the plate defensively," added Brew.

Teddy Christie was charged with the loss. He gave up three runs (two earned), five hits, walked two and struck out four.
 
FLAMES 3, UNION 2
The Bulldogs jumped on top of Lee with a two-run double by Austin Orr in the third inning. Brady Cook delivered two of Union's four hits and Trae Bain added the fourth.

Zack Zyburt led the Lee attack with two singles. The Flames finished the game with nine hits, but left 10 runners on base.

Lee had several chances to put runs on the board. The Flames loaded the bases with two out in the fourth, but were unable to score. Another opportunity came up in the sixth inning. In that inning, Nelo tripled to right center and scored on Luke Toms' single to end Union's shutout bid, but the Flames would once again load the bases with one out. Following a pitching change, the Bulldogs wiggled out of danger with a strikeout and a foul out to first base to end the threat.

The Flames would threaten again in the eighth inning after Wierzgac and Scott singled and moved up on a wild pitch with one out. Brown came to the plate with runners in scoring positon for the third time in the game. This time the junior delivered a singled through the left side to even the score at 1-1. Josh Tate executed a squeeze bunt to plate the game-winning run.

"I thought we swung the bats much better than our results showed offensively," said Brew. "We had lots of hard outs at the plate and I was pleased with our overall effort offensively. Tate's safety squeeze was a huge play."

Dustin Lawson was tagged for two runs and two hits in six innings of work. Lawson walked one and struck out eight in receiving the no-decision.

Ridge Ackerman pitched the final three innings of relief and picked up the win. Ackerman (2-0) gave up two hits and struck out four.
 
"Lawson and Ackerman did a solid job on the mound," added the Lee skipper . 

Preston Thompson was the hard-luck loser with two runs and four hits allowed in 2 2/3 innings of relief. He replaced Skyler Harrison who went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, one run and five walks.