PENSACOLA, Fla. – West Florida's Ledarious Clark ripped a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Argonauts a 5-4 victory and a second straight come-from-behind win over the Flames in a GSC doubleheader on Saturday. West Florida won the first game in 12 innings, 2-1.
"It was another gut-wrenching loss with the walk-off two-run home run," pointed out coach Mark Brew. "Trent (Hill) battled and competed. He made some big pitches when needed. We had a chance to get some more runs early, but the pitching changes they made settled them down and gave them a chance to chip away at our lead."
The Flames dropped to 17-12 overall and 8-10-1 in the Gulf South Conference. The Argonauts improved to 18-11 and 12-8.
The Flames went on top 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning when big Ben Holland stroked a solo homer but the Argos came right back in the bottom of the same inning to rip the hearts out of the Flames for the second consecutive contest.
Lee jumped on top in the first inning when Siosi Poti singled up the middle. Andres Nelo reached on a throwing error and Trent Hill put down a bunt single to load the bases. Holland walked to force Poti across the plate and pick up a RBI and Nate Wierzgac singled to make it a 2-0 advantage.
The margin reached 3-0 in the top of the second before the Argos began their comeback. Luke Toms led off the inning with a triple and Poti picked up a RBI with a single up the middle.
West Florida scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to tie the game at three. When both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning it set up plenty of excitement in the extra frame. Holland put the Flames up 4-3 with a solo blast.
The Argos promptly staged their second straight comeback. Jimmy Redovian collected a single and with one out, Clark connected on the two-run blast, giving the home club the 5-4 victory.
Poti and Wierzgac had two hits each in the Lee loss. Poti scored a run and knocked in another and Wierzgac also collected a RBI. Nelo had a hit and scored and Hill joined Chris Adams with one hit.
Hill pitched seven innings for the Flames. He allowed nine hits, three earned runs, struck out eight but walked five. Kyle Briner came on in the eighth and surrendered the home run ball. He was charged with the defeat.
Walter O'Connor lasted only one inning for the Argonauts. He gave up four hits and two earned runs. Alex Stevens hurled the next 6 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and one earned run but recorded nine big strike outs. Reed Wright only worked 1/3 of an inning but was credited with the pitching victory.
"I told the team after the game that you never lose one on the last pitch," added the coach. "Even though seeing West Florida win on the last pitch and that is what we remember most, we had lots of opportunities at the plate and lots of pitches we didn't make earlier in the game that are equally as important. We played in a tough environment, against one of the top GSC teams on the road. We had an opportunity to win both games. We just have to keep battling until we can break through and secure those last outs."
The same two clubs will tangle again on Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
GAME ONE – West Florida 2, Lee 1
West Florida scored in the bottom of the 12th inning and handed the Lee baseball team a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat in the opening contest of a three-game Gulf South Conference series on Saturday afternoon at Jim Spooner Field.
Lee's only run of the game came in the top of the third inning when Adams blasted a home run to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. The Argonauts tied the contest in the bottom of the ninth inning and forced three extra frames.
West Florida did the ninth-inning damage with two outs. Jordan Stark was hit by a pitch and Michael Tomlinson followed with a pinch-hit single that advanced Stark to third on the play. Redovian followed with a double to tie the contest at one.
In the bottom of the 12th free passes came back to haunt the Flames again when Chase Kiefer walked and Clark was hit by a pitch. Nic Strasser reached on a bunt single and Kiefer crossed home plate with the winning after Kyle Hamner walked.
The Flames produced plenty of hits, 13, but left 11 runners stranded on the base pads. Wierzgac banged out three hits in five trips to the dish, while Poti, Nelo and Hill posted two hits each. Nelo and Holland doubled in the loss.
Dustin Lawson hurled nine strong innings for the Flames. He allowed seven hits, one earned run, struck out three and walked two. Chevis Hoover came on to work two innings and was charged with the defeat. He allowed two hits, one earned run, two bases on balls and a strikeout. Michael James pitched in the 12th inning and gave up a hit and one free pass.
"Lawson did a phenomenal job on the mound," noted Brew. "He made some huge pitches throughout the game. We had plenty of opportunities to score but just couldn't get the key blow when we needed it. Overall, we swung the bats well but with runners in scoring position, we just didn't get it done."
