JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Lee University baseball team came from behind to record a 10-9 non-conference victory over Carson-Newman University Tuesday afternoon to end a five-game losing streak. The Flames (4-8) trailed 7-2 after three innings and scored four runs in the final two innings to complete the comeback.
The Flames tallied their second-highest hit total of the season with 12. The team combined for three home runs and two doubles in the win. Five of Carson-Newman's 13 hits went for extra bases.
Peyton Meeker was Lee's offensive leader. The senior was 3-for-4 with a home run, double and three runs scored. His solo home run in the top of the ninth inning was the eventual game-winner.
Spencer Mossburg ripped two hits, including a two-run round-tripper in the sixth inning that pulled the Flames to within two runs at 8-6. He scored twice and recorded three RBIs. Tyler Payne and Thomas Zazzaro were the only other Lee batters to finish with two hits.
Jordan Howard, Miguel Pimentel and Chase Gadau rounded up the team's hits. Pimentel doubled in the game's first run in the top of the first and Gadau singled up the middle to plate Pimentel and give the Flames an early 2-0 lead. Howard launched a solo home run in the fifth inning.
The Eagles tallied a single run in the bottom of the first to cut the Lee lead in half. C-N then used four hits and one Lee error to ignite a six-run fourth inning to gain a 7-2 advantage. The Flames responded with a single tally in the fourth, but the Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning. Lee scored the games' next three runs before Carson-Newman added a single run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-6 in favor of the home team.
The Flames took advantage of an error and wild pitch to tie the contest with three runs in the eighth inning. With two out in the top of the ninth, Meeker drove a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to give Lee its first lead since the first inning.
Cade Snapp, Ethan Goforth, Tyler Thompson and Cal Smith had two hits each for the Eagles. Snapp led the way with a double, home run and two RBIs. Goforth and Smith each legged out doubles, while Thompson hit a two-run round-tripper in the third inning.
The Flames had 10 different pitchers toe the rubber in the game. Joe Parete (1-2) was credited with the win after walking one and striking out two in a hitless shutout eighth inning. Zazzaro was tagged with two hits and struck out one in the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
"I'm really proud of the team and the way they battled back into the game," said Lee head coach Mark Brew. "To overcome a six run inning isn't something you typically are able to do, but once we chipped away and took the lead we needed to find a way to get the win. We got some big pitches out of Zazzaro, Parete, Albert and Whitener. We had a plan to throw a lot of guys today and we needed them all in the end. It was good to see the offense pick us up and carry us today. Meeker was huge at the plate and the swing in the ninth was clutch. Hopefully this can create a little momentum into our conference opener with West Alabama this weekend."
The three-game GSC series against West Alabama is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 24 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.
