JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman jumped the Lee baseball team for four runs in the first inning and turned back rallies by the Flames in the third and fifth innings to finally coast to a 11-3 victory.
It was the 11
th straight win by the surging Eagles who improved to 14-5. Lee dropped to 8-11 and faces another tough non-conference test on Wednesday when they travel to Lincoln Memorial University.
Lee watched the Eagles bat around in the bottom of the first inning as the first two batters reached on an error and a walk. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third and a sacrifice fly put the Eagles on the board.
Paul Kirby, the hitting star of the day for Carson-Newman, laced a double to right-centerfield to score the second run of the contest. Kirby finished the afternoon with three hits, including a grand-slam homer in the bottom of the eighth that took the Flames completely out of the contest.
The Flames fought back in the third inning and cut the margin to 4-2. After the first two hitters walked, Ben Holland singled to put Lee on the board. A ground-out by Luke Toms plated the second run.
Lee came within one run of the Eagles in the fifth when Ty Broady drilled his second homer of the season, but Carson-Newman increased the lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the same inning and were never seriously threatened by the Flames the remainder of the contest.
Holland had three hits to pace the Lee attack. Geremy Walton collected his fourth double and also singled in the loss. Chris Adams, MJ Brown and Nate Wierzgac had Lee's other hits. Broady scored two runs and Miguel Pimentel had the other tally.
The Eagles pounded out 15 hits against four Lee pitchers. Gage Carpenter was the starting and losing hurler. He allowed five hits, walked three and surrendered just one run in 1 1/3 innings. Corbin Lamb followed for 3 1/3 innings. The lefty gave up six hits, two earned runs and struck out a pair. Tyler Burcham came on for 2 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits and four earned runs. Dallas Bryan pitched the final 2/3 of an inning.
The Eagles used six hurlers in the win. Hunter Wood was given the decision, although he hurled only 1 1/3 innings. Eric Lynch and Cade Snapp had two hits each for the winners.
