Three is enough! At least it was on Tuesday afternoon as the Flames improved to 11-1 on the season with 2-1, 1-0 victories over Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.) at Olympic Field.

After spending several hours removing snow from the playing field, the Flames manufactured just enough runs to sweep the visiting Knights.

GAME ONE
Flames 2, Knights 1

The Flames scored a single tally in the first inning when Siosi Poti found a way to get around the Bellarmine catcher after a sacrifice fly by Shae Durham and go up 1-0. The Knights came back to tie the game in the third and it remained that way until the bottom of the sixth inning.

With one out in the sixth inning, Cameron Scott doubled down the left-field line. Ben Holland was intentionally walked and Zack Zyburt singled to deep short to load the bases. With two outs, Poti made his presence felt again. Poti was nicked by an inside pitch by Bellarmine pitcher Eddie Mathis, forcing Scott across home plate with what turned out to be the winning run.

The Flames again got outstanding pitching in the win. Rob Gustitus pitched the first four innings. He allowed four hits, one earned run, struck out five and walked two. Chevis Hoover followed for the next two innings and did not allow a hit, while fanning four and walking two. Kyle Briner came on in the seventh to pitch a perfect inning and pick up his fourth save of the year. Hoover was credited with his third pitching win of the year.

Austin Warner pitched well for the losers. He allowed four hits, one earned run, struck out four and issued four free passes. Mathis hurled the final three innings surrendering three hits, one earned run, one strike out and a walk.

Trent Hill and Zyburt had two hits each for the Flames. All totaled, the Flames recorded seven hits including Scott's fourth double of the year. The Knights had only four hits. Nick Wright had a pair of hits, including a double. Drew Greenwood also had a two-base hit and scored Bellarmine's only run.

"We had several opportunities with runners in scoring position that we left out there in the first game," explained coach Mark Brew. "It's early, but we're going to have to have some people start stepping up in those situations. Poti was huge scoring on the shallow fly ball in the first inning. Our defense was excellent. Hoover and Briner did an excellent job leading the way on the mound."

GAME TWO
Flames 1, Knights 0

It was almost the same song, just a different verse in the second contest. The Flames found a way to make the best of only four hits and the pitching of Jacob Potts, Ryan Zimmer and Ridge Ackerman shut down the Knights hitters for the second straight game.

Potts registered his first pitching win of the year hurling four innings and giving up three hits, striking out one and allowing no free passes. Zimmer worked the next two innings. His line included two hits and a walk. Ackerman came on in the seventh and notched his second save of the year. He was perfect and struck out one Knight hitter.

The Flames scored the game's only run in the bottom of the first inning. Poti was hit by a pitch. Nate Wierzgac singled to right field and Hill drilled a RBI single back up the middle to plate Poti.

Ironically, it was Poti, Wierzgac and Hill who joined MJ Brown's double with Lee's only hits. The Knights actually out-hit the Flames 5-4 with Zac Willey connecting for a pair of singles. Cole Metcalfe, Michael Belliveau and Griffin Neuer had the other Bellarmine hits.
 
"Potts made his starting debut and did an excellent job being efficient throwing for shutout innings and only 50 pitches," praised Brew. "Zimmer once again was solid out of the pen and Ackerman did a good job closing things out. I thought Wierzgac had a solid night at the plate with some good swings."
 
 Brew added, "It was a crazy day that started with two inches of snow on the ground. Our team and coaching staff worked extremely hard to get the field playable for the game because we had a one-shot opportunity to play these games. We are finding ways to win and that is important, but we still have several areas that we need to improve in. Things will not get easier for us as we travel to West Georgia this weekend. They have a very good pitching staff and a solid club and it'll be our first Gulf South Conference road test this year."