The Lee baseball Flames split a Saturday doubleheader with visiting Tiffin University (Ohio), winning the first game 5-4 but dropping the nightcap 2-0. The same two clubs will battle the cold temperatures again on Sunday and complete the three-game series beginning at 2 p.m.

GAME ONE:
In the opener, the Flames battled back from a four-run deficit to claim victory. Tiffin jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings but Lee scored two runs in the fifth, a solo run in the eighth and two more runs in the ninth to pull out the victory. 

Ben Holland tripled for Lee's only extra-base hit of the afternoon. He finished the game with two hits and two RBI. The Flames also got a pair of hits from Nate Wierzgac, who also scored one of Lee's five runs. Ty Broady singled, knocked in a run and scored twice, while Shae Durham banged out a single.

Justin Alleman pitched five innings for the Flames and gave up five hits, four earned runs, struck out eight and walked one. Tyler Burcham came on to pitch the final four innings and pick up the pitching victory. He surrendered only two hits, struck out five and walked two. 

The visitors got solid pitching from Tyler Nichols, Mike Cooperider and Kevin Borst. The loss went to Borst, who worked 1 2/3 innings. Tiffin collected seven hits and Nick Hueneburg ripped a home run and collected two RBI. Ryan Davis also homered and scored twice.

GAME TWO:
Tiffin rode the strong pitching of Patrick Bellinger and Brady Ward in shutting out the Flames in the nightcap. Bellinger got the victory. He pitched four innings, allowing just two hits, striking out five and walking two. Ward closed out the seven-inning game with three innings of shut-out ball.  He did not allow a hit but walked four Lee batters, while striking out three.

Art Vidrio got the start and was charged with the pitching defeat. He hurled four innings, allowing six hits, one run, fanning two and walking two batters. Christian Bokich followed with two innings of mound work. He gave up just one hit, struck out two and issued one free pass. Gage Carpenter came on in the seventh. He allowed two hits, one earned run and was credited with three strikeouts.

Lee's only hits came off the bats of Ryan Beamish and Luke Toms. Toms had a double. Tiffin countered with a homerun by Perry. He finished with two hits. McCurry also had a couple of hits, while Wyatt Edwards scored the other important run for the winners.