Visiting Delta State University pushed across four runs in the top of the ninth inning in posting an 11-8 comeback victory over the Lee baseball Flames.

The Flames held an 8-7 advantage going into the final inning but the Statesmen, long known as a powerhouse in the Gulf South Conference, were not about to go away without a fight. They sent nine men to the plate in the ninth and took advantage of three key walks in posting the victory.

"That is just one that we let get away," said a disappointed Lee head coach Mark Brew. "Again, it was freebies (walks) that came back to haunt us in the ninth. We had done a good job of eliminating the free passes until that inning."

The loss wiped out 3 1/3 innings of outstanding relief pitching by Grayson Bailey. He allowed only three hits but gave up three earned runs. He walked one and struck out four. Dustin Lawson started for the Flames and lasted 4 2/3 innings. He gave up 11 of Delta State's 17 hits. Lawson struck out two, walked one and allowed six earned runs.

Coach Brew went back to his bullpen in the ninth inning when Bailey got into trouble. However, Chevis Hoover was able to work only 1/3 of an inning. He gave up one hit, two earned runs and walked a batter. Hoover (3-2) was charged with the defeat. Ridge Ackerman got the final two outs for the Flames. However, he also gave up a pair of hits and issued a free pass.

The sixth, seventh and eighth innings turned into a pitcher's duel between Bailey and Delta State's Witt Haggard. Haggard pitched three innings and did not give up a run. He struck out five and walked one. "He was definitely the difference in the game," remarked Brew. "He allowed Delta State to get to their closer (Nick Goza) in the ninth inning."

The Flames jumped on Delta starter Drew Milligan for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. All totaled, Milligan pitched five innings and gave up all 11 of Lee's hits before being relieved by Haggard.

The Statesmen cut the Lee margin to 4-3 in the top of the second but the Flames got a RBI single by Andres Nelo that scored Siosi Poti to build the lead to 5-3 after two innings. Back came Delta State in the fifth, scoring three runs and reclaimed the lead at 6-5.

The see-saw battle continued in the bottom half of the fifth inning when Lee got a two-run homer from Ben Holland, a double by Trent Hill and a two-run single by Chris Adams. The rally put the Flames back up 8-6.

Delta State trimmed the lead to one run in the seventh on a solo home run by Colton Welch and the contest worked into the ninth inning with the Flames needing three outs to close the deal.

"We lost a couple of games similar to this against West Florida last weekend," pointed out Brew. "They were much lower scoring games but had the same results. It will not get any easier tomorrow. We've got to bounce back against a very good Delta State team."

While the Flames were led by Nelo's three hits, including a double, two RBI and two runs scored, Poti collected a pair of hits and scored twice. Holland ripped his fifth homer and singled. He had two RBI and scored a couple of runs. Hill followed with two hits, a RBI and crossed home twice. Luke Toms got a RBI with a single and Adams had Lee's other hit.

The Statesmen ripped four extra-base hits including home runs by Ben Pickard and Welch. Pickard and Welch also doubled, while Jacob Swiney and Landon Thibodeaux also had two-base knocks. Swiney, Pickard and Thibodeaux led the 17-hit attack with three hits apiece. Brandon Cummins, Pickard and Erick Santiago led the RBI parade with two apiece. Santiago drove in two key runs with his only at bat in the ninth inning.

The win improves Delta State's record to 12-11 overall, 9-6 in GSC. The Flames dropped to 19-13-1, 9-11-1. Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.