Junior right-hander Pat Morrow worked his way out of a jam in the sixth inning and picked up the pitching win as Lee earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory in the second game of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader against visiting University of West Alabama on Friday afternoon at Olympic Field.

The Tigers posted a 3-1 win in the nine-inning opener and put pressure on the Flames to earn a split as both teams opened play in GSC action. Pitching and defense dominated the two contests and both clubs used their speed to help produce runs that came at a premium in the twinbill.

"Anytime you only score four runs between two games and get a split you have to take it," remarked Lee head coach Mark Brew. "I thought our pitching was solid all day as was our defense.
"Morrow had some huge pitches to get out of a based-loaded jam in the sixth inning of game two which you can look back on as the difference in the game.  Offensively, we did just enough in game two to gain the split."

The final nine-inning game of the three-game series is slated for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon. The series was moved up to Friday and Saturday to try to beat rain which is predicted for the Cleveland area.

Game 1 – West Alabama 3, Lee 1
The Tigers broke open a scoreless pitching duel with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and then added an insurance run in the ninth. In the fourth, Jake Hartman doubled and scored on a RBI single by Joel Murphy.

UWA added another solo run in the fifth inning when Luke Phillips singled, took second and third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Hughes. The insurance run came in the ninth when Ben Dalke doubled and then scored on a two-base knock by Brock Montgomery.

The Flames scored their only run with a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chase Gadau walked, Spencer Mossburg reached on a single and Lee loaded the bases when Thomas Zazzaro reached on an error and Tyler Payne walked with the bases loaded to push home the score. Payne, Jordan Howard, Miguel Pimentel, Gadau, Mossburg and Zazzaro had the Flames six hits in the loss.

Dalke, Hartman and Montgomery doubled in the win, while Steffon Moore was the winning pitcher. He hurled six complete innings and allowed only three hits but walked four while striking out six.

Layton Dill came on to register the save and worked three innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. He pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Eric Freeman started for the Flames and turned in 5.2 innings. He allowed just four hits, two earned runs, fanned five and walked two. Wes Albert came out of the pen for the final 3.1 innings. He gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out three.

Game 2 – Lee 3, West Alabama 1
The Flames turned the table on the Tigers in the nightcap thanks to the solid effort of Morrow. The right-hander turned in six innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run. He struck out eight and walked three. "We need another solid performance from Jumpei (Akanuma) tomorrow," stressed the Lee coach. "He's thrown well and it's an opportunity to win a Gulf South series."

The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 margin in the first inning when Austin Moffett ripped a double down the left-field line and scored on Dalke's single. Other than a threat in the sixth inning, Morrow was in control the entire six innings.

Lee tied the contest in the bottom of the first inning when Pimentel singled and went all the way to third on back-to-back wild pitches. Peyton Meeker took advantage of the situation by lacing a one-base knock to left that scored Pimentel.

Jordan Howard blasted a solo homer over the left-centerfield wall in the fifth inning to put Lee up 2-1. "Jordan's homer was a big swing for us," noted coach Brew.  "We needed someone to step up and deliver in a big moment."

The Flames put the final run of the game on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Fernando Ortiz walked, stole second and reached third on a throwing error. Payne stroked a single to pick up the RBI.
In the top of the seventh, coach Brew went to the bullpen and called on Joe Parete to close the victory. Parete allowed a hit and a walk before sealing the deal with a strikeout and a ground out.

Lee outhit UWA 9-5. Pimentel and Meeker banged out two hits apiece, while Chase Andrews hit a rocket off the left-field wall that went for two bases and he also singled.

JT Salter was the starting and losing Tiger hurler. He worked 4.2 innings and allowed eight hits and two earned runs. Christian Griffin came on for the final 1.1 innings and surrendered just one hit and an earned run.