ROME, Ga. – Lee finished the 2018 regular season with a 6-3 victory over host Shorter University on Sunday afternoon. The Flames will take a 25-24 overall mark and 16-13 Gulf South Conference record into the opening round of the GSC tournament on Saturday.
The pairings were released for the 2018 tourney on Sunday afternoon by conference officials. The No. 7 seed Flames will open play against No. 2 seed Montevallo University at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The tourney is divided into two pool sessions this year and Lee is in Pool B. Four teams represent the two pools. The Flames return to action on Sunday at 11 a.m. testing No. 3 seed West Florida.The final pool test takes place on Monday against No. 6 seed West Georgia at a time to be determined. The two pool play winners will play for the GSC tourney championship on Tuesday.
No. 1 seed Delta State, No. 4 seed Mississippi College, No. 5 seed North Alabama and No. 8 seed West Alabama make up Pool A.
The Flames fell behind the Hawks 3-0 on Sunday afternoon before beginning a comeback with two runs in the fourth inning when Tyler Payne and Jordan Howard walked. Miguel Pimentel singled and Peyton Meeker delivered a RBI sac fly scoring Payne. Spencer Mossburg followed with a one-base knock that scored Howard.
The Flames tied the game in the sixth with singles by Chase Gadau and Dalton Ney. Ryan Bemish picked up a key hit with a RBI one-base hit. Lee jumped on top for the first time in the seventh inning. Payne was hit by a pitch. Pimentel ripped a two-run homer. Mossburg collected his second hit of the day and later scored on a costly error by Shorter.
All totaled, Payne might have set a Lee record by reaching base six straight times in six plate appearances. Pimentel was the game's hit leader with a pair of singles and a big four-bagger.
"We left a lot of guys on base today (20), but found a way to scratch out the six runs. Pimentel had a nice weekend and Beamish had a big two-strike, two-out RBI to tie the game at three," noted head coach Mark Brew.
Lee starting pitcher Pat Morrow struggled in the first inning before settling down and working 4.2 innings. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, struck out four and walked two. Jumpei Akanuma followed for 2.1 quality innings. He allowed just two hits and fanned three. John Reese Gilmer took his turn for 0.2 innings and gave up a hit and walked two. Lefty Lance Hamilton came on to retire a big out in the eighth inning with a strikeout. Logan Workman finished the afternoon by allowing no hits. Akanuma (5-4) was credited with the win and Workman picked up his fourth save.
"The bullpen really picked it up for us today," praised Brew. "After a rough game on Saturday, we posted five scoreless innings today and that was key after getting behind early. Hopefully, this can create a little momentum heading into the GSC tournament. We are excited to return to the tournament and look forward to that opportunity next week."
The Hawks used five hurlers in an attempt to slow the Lee bats. Jesse Wheeler was charged with the loss. In 2.2 innings he gave up five hits and three earned runs.
