CLEVELAND, Miss. – Lee and host Delta State split a baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Harvey Stadium. The Flames won a high-scoring 17-13 opening-game contest but dropped the nightcap, 9-4.
The two teams will complete the Gulf South Conference three-game series on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m.
LEE 17, DELTA STATE 13The Flames jumped on top in the opening game by a 14-3 margin after 4 ½ innings only to see the Statesmen battle back to cut the lead to 14-13 at the end of seven innings. Lee scored two runs in the eighth and a solo run in the ninth to salt the victory away.
The Flames pounded out 22 hits in the victory and seven different Lee players had at least two hits. Big Ben Holland continued to lead the Lee hitting attack. He blasted a pair of home runs and drove in four baserunners while scoring three times.
The Lee slugger had plenty of help. Trent Hill, Ty Broady, Luke Toms, Geremy Walton and Nate Wierzgac all stroked doubles. Toms had five hits in six trips to the dish. He collected three RBI and scored three times. Broady finished with two hits and two RBI, while Wierzgac knocked in two runs and scored three times. Tyler Payne got into the act with a pair of hits and a couple of RBI, while Walton finished with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI.
The Lee pitching staff had to overcome three home runs and five RBI from Delta State's Trent Giambrone. Ben Pickard and Colton Welch also homered twice as the Statesmen collected seven homers and one triple in the loss.
Justin Alleman was the starting and winning pitcher for the Flames. He worked the first five innings and gave up nine hits and eight earned runs, striking out four and walking one. Christian Bokich pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and was credited with the save. He did not allow a hit or run and struck out two.
DELTA STATE 9, LEE 4 The Statesmen got out to a 7-3 lead after four innings in game two and collected the victory. They posted 13 hits against two Lee hurlers. Art Vidrio was the starting and losing pitcher. In 3 1/3 innings he allowed nine hits, seven earned runs, walked two and struck out two. Corbin Lamb pitched the final 2 2/3 innings. The lefty gave up six hits, four earned runs, fanned seven and walked four.
Holland continued to swing the hot bat, blasting a home run and a double. He collected three hits in four trips to the plate. Wierzgac also added to his big day with a double, a RBI and one run scored. Shae Durham had one hit and a RBI, while Kyle Briner got into the act with a RBI.
Giambrone, Pickard and Erick Santiago doubled in the win, while Jacob Swiney tripled. Brandon Cummins had three hits, posted a RBI and scored twice.
Tre Hobbs (4-0) went the distance to pick up the pitching victory. He did allow nine hits, seven earned runs, striking out only two and walking two.
