MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A hit batter, two walks and a bad-hop single spelled a 5-4 defeat for the Lee baseball team in the final game of a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Christian Brothers University on Saturday afternoon.
The end result was two wins against one defeat by the Flames to the Bucs. Lee won the opener on Friday 6-0 and claimed a 6-3 contest in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday.
"We are not consistent enough with the bats and that puts a lot of pressure on our pitchers," remarked coach Mark Brew after the tough second game loss. "We had our chances to put the game away but continue to fail to hit with runners on base." The Flames stranded a total of 16 base runners in Saturday's twinbill.
Saturday - Game 2, Lee 4, CBU 5
The final game saw the Flames bounce back after trailing 1-0 with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Chase Andrews and Peyton Meeker started the rally with singles. Jeffrey Chapuran reached on an error after putting down a sacrifice bunt. Jordan Howard tied the game at one with along sacrifice fly to center and Nate Wierzgac blasted a three-run homer over the left-field wall in what appeared to put the Flames in great shape.
However, the Bucs cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a long sac fly by Jarred Cramer and a double that plated another run.
The stage was set for the bottom of the seventh inning after reliever Joe Parete quieted the Christian Brothers bats in the bottom of the sixth. Coach Mark Brew called on ace reliever Kit Larson (1-5) to try to seal the deal in the bottom of the seventh.
All of a sudden the wheels came off. As reported earlier, a hit batter, two walks loaded the sacks and with one out Taylor King hit a hard shot that took a bad hop and kicked over the head of Lee shortstop Chapuran and the Bucs celebrated as the winning runs crossed home plate.
Art Vidrio pitched 5.2 innings of five-hit ball. He allowed three earned runs, struck out four and walked two. Parete struck out a man in 0.1 innings and Larson struggled with control in the seventh and was charged with the loss.
The Flames only managed seven hits in the contest and no one had more than one hit. Spencer Mossburg doubled, while Howard, Drew Johnson, Chase Andrews and Meeker had a hit apiece.
Taylor King pitched four innings of four-hit ball and allowed just one earned run. Patrick Gurley (2-6) hurled the final three innings and picked up the pitching win. Joe Mattson had two doubles and of course King picked up two big RBI.
Saturday - Game 1, Lee 6, CBU 3
Lee recorded 10 hits in Saturday's opener. Mossburg led the way with three hits and a run scored. Johnson banged out a pair of singles, while Howard knocked in a run with a triple and Wierzgac, Payne and Meeker had a hit each. Andrews climaxed a solid day with three of Lee's five RBI.
Jumpei Akanuma was the Lee starter and pitched six innings. He allowed six hits, three earned runs and struck out eight. Parete (5-2) came on for an inning and picked up the pitching win. Larson hurled the final two frames and recorded his ninth save of the year.
Cramer had a solo homer for the losers while Brandon Dodd banged out a double and triple. Jeff Goodwin also had two hits for the Bucs who used three pitchers in the loss. Gil Erwin (4-6) was charged with the loss. He pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs.
Lee (24-9, 11-16) will travel to Tusculum for a Tuesday non-conference game and then return home to host Mississippi College in another Gulf South Conference series next Saturday and Sunday.
