JACKSON, Tenn. - Lee exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to help earn an important Gulf South Conference sweep over host Union University on Saturday afternoon. The Flames rode a strong pitching performance by senior Wes Albert to win 3-0 in the opener and then battled back to claim the nightcap 8-7 in an extra inning.
 
"Wow what a big turn of events in the seventh inning. We didn't have much momentum in the first six innings, but our guys have been resilient all year and they found a way to get it done," explained head coach Mark Brew after Saturday's sweep.
 
"There were so many big at bats in that inning highlighted by (Jordan) Howard's three-run homer to take lead," he added. "To win the series on day one is huge for us.  We have a great opportunity in front of us tomorrow and we need a good performance from Jumpei (Akanuma) and need the offense competing earlier in the game."
 
The Flames moved over the .500 mark in GSC play (6-5) for the first time this season and now stand at 12-13 overall. They will face the Bulldogs in a single nine-inning contest on Sunday afternoon. The opening pitch is slated for 2 p.m. (EDT).

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the fourth, added one run in the fifth, two more in the sixth to take a 6-0 advantage into the top of the seventh inning. The Flames put together four hits in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by the three-run dinger by Howard and a single by Tyler Payne that plated Fernando Ortiz and Ryan Beamish.
 
Union would not go away and deadlocked the contest in the bottom of the inning and forced the extra frame. The Flames went to small ball in the top of the eighth. Miguel Pimentel and Dalton Ney put down sacrifice bunts after Spencer Mossburg reached on a walk. Mossburg scored what turned out to be the winning run on a sac fly by Ortiz.
 
The Flames called on Eric Freeman to close the door on the Bulldogs and preserve the victory in the bottom of the eighth. Freeman hurled two innings, allowing no earned runs, one hit and striking out one. He was credited with the pitching victory.
 
"We gave up the lead and bounced back again with Ortiz's sac fly in the eighth," praised Brew. "We continued to show resilience as Freeman finished with a clean eighth inning." Pat Morrow pitched five innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs. John Reese Gilmer came on for a scoreless inning before Freeman sealed the deal.
 
Game 1 – Lee 3, Union 0
The Flames got seven innings of solid work from senior right-handed pitcher Wes Albert and freshman righty Logan Workman came to the bump for the eighth and ninth innings to pick up the save.
 
Albert, who entered the contest with an impressive 1.74 ERA, recorded his first win of the season. He scattered six hits (all singles), fanned seven Bulldogs and walked only one. Workman registered the first save of his young career. He surrendered one hit, issued a free pass and struck out two.
 
"Wes really did a great job with his first conference start of the season. He pitched out of a few jams, but seemed to be in control most the way," pointed out Brew. "Workman continues to give us quality innings and slammed the door in the eighth and ninth."
 
Howard put the Flames on top 1-0 in the first inning, drilling his fourth homer over the right-field wall. Lee put the battle away in the top of the eighth. Ney walked and Ortiz reached on an error. Payne, who had two of Lee's five hits, delivered an RBI single, scoring Ney. Chase Gadau pushed Ortiz across the dish with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Howard joined Payne with two hits while Peyton Meeker also doubled. Caleb Demarigny was a perfect 3-for-3 in the Bulldog loss. Scott Shearer pitched well for Union. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out five in 7.1 innings. Skyler Harrison hurled the final 1.2 frames.