HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Nine runs and 15 hits just weren't enough as the Lee University baseball team lost its Gulf South Conference (GSC) series finale, 10-9, to The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
UAH (8-4, 3-0 GSC) used four runs in the bottom of the ninth to keep the Flames (5-5, 0-3 GSC) from salvaging one game of the three-game set.
Ben Holland was 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and his fifth home run of the season. The first baseman knocked in three runs and scored three times.
Ryan Beamish was 3-for-5 with two doubles. Trenton Hill and Miguel Pimentel tallied two safeties each. Chris Adams and MJ Brown both ripped doubles and drove in two runs apiece. Ty Broady and Geremy Walton singled in the loss.
UAH received two hits each from Matt Spruill, Austin Sanders, Wright Hackett, Michael Fox and Tanner Gardner. Spruill tripled, Fox doubled and Trey Mathis homered for the Chargers.
Both teams used five pitchers in the nine-inning contest. Art Vidrio started for the Flames and gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Heath McRae pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for UAH. McRae allowed five runs, seven hits, walked two and struck out two.
The Flames took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with Holland's two-run home run. Adams doubled in two runs, Holland and Brown doubled in one run each in the fourth inning to put the Flames up 7-0.
UAH posted a solo run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to cut the Lee lead to three. Two Lee runs in the eighth were matched by the Chargers in their next at bat.
Lee carried a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth. UAH collected two singles to begin the frame and loaded the bases with none out with a walk. Sanders singled in a run to chase Lee's Tyler Burcham from the game.
Two consecutive wild pitches tied the game at 9-9. Following two intentional walks to reload the bases and a strikeout, Fox was hit by a pitch to push across the game-winning run.
Burcham (1-1) gave up four runs, three hits, walked one, struck out one and was charged with the loss.
Logan Crook (1-0) gave up just one hit and faced four batters in one inning of work. He became the pitcher of record following UAH's comeback.
The Flames return to action this coming weekend when Lee travels to Cleveland, Miss., to take on Delta State University. The GSC series is scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST and a single nine-inning game on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST.
