CARROLLTON, Ga. – Kit Larson recorded his second save of the series and Lee pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning to win the three-game series with host West Georgia (2-1) on Sunday afternoon.
After splitting a doubleheader with the Wolves on Saturday, the Flames claimed the tight rubber-game contest 5-2 and improved to 13-5 overall and 5-4 in the Gulf South Conference standings. West Georgia slipped to 7-10 and 2-7 in league play.
"I was really proud of our response today," said pleased Lee coach Mark Brew. "Conference road series wins are tough to come by in the GSC, but we exhibited a lot of toughness today and found a way to get this series."
Larson worked 1.2 innings on Saturday and came back with another 1.2-inning effort on Sunday to help Lee secure the important win. "Kit (Larson) continues to be a huge part of a steady bullpen. He had two five-out saves this weekend and has garnered a lot of big outs for us this year," added the Lee skipper.
The Flames jumped on top in the first inning. Jordan Howard reached on an error and Geremy Walton followed with the first of his three hits on the afternoon. Peyton Meeker picked up the RBI with a single that scored Howard.
West Georgia tied the game in the bottom of the second when Cade Marlowe scored on a one-base hit by Logan Barnett. Lee bounced right back to grab a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Walton helped the Flames manufacture the run by stealing second and third and then scoring on a sacrifice fly by Drew Johnson.
The Wolves came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the same inning when Ben Utley homered. The battle remained scoreless until the Flames put three big runs on the board in the top of the eighth.
The inning began when Walton recorded his third hit of the day. Johnson followed with an infield hit and Meeker picked up his second RBI, scoring Walton. Miguel Pimentel singled and then the wheels came off for the Wolves. Zack Zyburt came on to run for Pimentel. Johnson crossed the dish on a wild pitch and Zyburt raced home on a throwing error by the West Georgia catcher.
West Georgia had a man reach with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Brew wasted no time in going to Larson who quickly erased any hope of a Wolves comeback. Over the 1.2 innings, he did not allow a hit and struck out two batters.
Jumpei Akanuma got the start for the Flames and hurled six quality innings. He allowed seven hits, two earned runs, struck out five and walked two. Jay Parete came on for 1.1 innings and allowed a pair of hits and no runs. Parete (2-0) got the win and Larson his seventh save of the year.
"Jumpei gave us a quality start today, which is something we have struggled in with on Sunday the past two weeks," pointed out Brew who will send his Flames into a non-conference game with Carson Newman on Wednesday. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Walton tallied two runs to go along with his three hits, while Pimentel had a pair of singles. Meeker registered a hit and two RBI. Howard, Johnson, Nate Wierzgac and Spencer Mossburg joined Johnson in also hitting safely in the victory.
Ryan Parker was the starting and losing hurler for West Georgia. In six solid innings, he allowed one earned run while striking out seven. All totaled, the Wolves used four pitchers in the loss.
