A long journey back to one of the top six teams in the rugged Gulf South Conference standings became a reality on Sunday afternoon when the Lee baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Christian Brothers University with a 9-4 victory at Olympic Field.
 
While the Flames were whipping the visitors from Memphis, the University of West Georgia completed a three-game sweep of Valdosta State. The Blazers (15-10) dropped all the way from third to the seventh position in the current GSC standings while Lee climbed into the sixth spot all alone (16-9). Only six teams qualify for the conference tournament.
 
However, the mission does not stop with Sunday's game. After hosting a ranked Tusculum College team on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. the Flames will make the long trip to Clinton, Miss. next Saturday and Sunday and face the Choctaws in another three-game series. They will close out GSC play the following weekend when West Florida, currently leading the GSC, visits Olympic Field.
 
Lee jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening two innings of Sunday's contest. Kyle Briner started the first inning rally with a single and Trent Hill promptly lifted his fifth homer over the right center-field wall. In the second inning, Briner was in the middle of the action again. Geremy Walton singled and Tyler Payne reached on a bunt single. Briner collected two RBI with a double to the gap in left-center.
 
The Bucs cut the margin to 4-1 in the fourth inning when Caleb Goodwin doubled, went to third on a balk and scored on a ground-out by Mickey Smith.
 
The Flames sent eight men to the plate in the sixth inning and put the contest out of reach with four runs. Walton was hit by a pitch and stole second and third. After a strikeout, Briner was also hit by a pitch. Ben Holland posted a RBI with a deep fly to right. Luke Toms reached on a single and Hill walked to load the bases. MJ Brown collected a RBI after being hit by a pitch and Nate Wierzgac put a seal on the four-run inning with a two-RBI single.
 
Lee added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Holland lifted his 16^th homer over the left center-field wall. He also has a team-leading 45 RBI.
 
Christian Brothers rallied back in the eighth and took advantage of a hit batter and a walk before Smith unloaded a two-run triple. He later scored on a single by Trey Keppen.
 
Coach Mark Brew went to the bullpen and called on Briner to close the game for the second straight day. He got a ground out to end the eighth inning and then was rewarded a double play in the ninth when Casey Goodwin hit a shot to Holland at first who turned and fired a strike to shortstop Luke Toms for the double play that ended the game.
 
Junior Tyler Burcham (3-1) started and pitched 5 1/3 innings to pick up the pitching win for the Flames. He allowed five hits, one earned run, struck out three and walked one. Christian Bokich gave Lee 1 2/3 innings of strong relief work. He did not allow a hit, while striking out two and giving up one free pass. After Corbin Lamb came on and struggled for 2/3 of an inning, Brew called on Briner and the rest is history.
 
Hill and Wierzgac paced the Flames with three hits apiece. Hill had two RBI and scored twice. Wierzgac collected two RBI. "It was good to see Nate and some of the other guys deliver," noted coach Brew. "As we dig even deeper into this conference race, teams will be pitching much closer to Holland, Toms and Hill when so much is on the line."
 
Brown had a pair of hits, while Walton scored a pair of runs. All totaled, the Flames had 15 hits off three Christian Brothers pitchers. Gil Erwin started and worked 4 1/3 innings and was charged with the pitching defeat.