LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Lee made the long trip to the University of West Alabama and posted a split of the GSC baseball doubleheader on Monday afternoon, winning the first game 5-1 but dropping the nightcap 7-5. The Flames are 7-6 overall and 3-2 in league play. The Tigers improved to 6-5, 2-3.
"It will be a short turn around as we host a good Lincoln Memorial team tomorrow (3 p.m. at Olympic Field)," said head coach Mark Brew. "Overall, we need to make some improvements in strike throwing. Free bases have haunted us most the year and we need to improve that immediately."
Thomas Zazzaro had a big day at the plate for the Flames, pounding out six hits including a double. He drove in a pair of runs in the doubleheader.
Lee 5, West Alabama 1
Freshman hurler Alex Butler improved his record to 2-0 on the year in the opener. He worked five innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, fanning five and walking five. Randall Coxwell turned in a fine showing in relief and picked up his first save. He gave the Flames badly needed four innings and did not surrender a hit or run. He issued two free passes and struck out one.
"Butler didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and gave us another quality start. Coxwell did a really nice job finishing the game. Zazzaro gave our offense a much needed lift and we swung the bats better overall," pointed out Brew. Overall, the Tigers managed just four hits off the Lee hurlers.
The Flames tallied single runs in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings while collecting 11 hits. Zazzaro got the ball rolling in the second inning when his single to right-center plated Justin Fragale. Fragale had a one-base hit down the left-field line to score Alan Smith in the third.
The Tigers cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third but the Flames bounced back in the top of the fifth when Fragale lifted a sacrifice fly to left-field that scored Fernando Ortiz. Miguel Pimentel walked with the bases loaded in the sixth to send Zazzaro across the plate and Parker Stahlman posted a RBI with a ground-out in the seventh that scored Keyshaun Smith.
While Zazzaro was leading the way, Ortiz had two hits and walked twice, while Stahlman collected two of Lee's 11 hits. Cole Waites started and was charged with the pitching loss over four innings for West Alabama. Kirby Osborn came on for the final four innings.
West Alabama 7, Lee 5
"We did a nice job offensively bouncing back after the early 2-0 deficit, but we just couldn't stop them when we needed to. The bases loaded situation with one out in the sixth was big since we couldn't grab a run or two with our three and four hitters up," stated Brew.
Alan Rickman got the start for the Flames and pitched a pair of innings. He allowed four hits and just one earned run but walked three and struck out one. Brandon Thompson came on for 1.2 innings. He was charged with one run while giving up three hits. Ian Turner was Lee's third hurler and recorded 0.1 inning. He allowed two earned runs and was charged with the loss. Logan Workman pitched the final two innings, surrendering two hits, one earned run, walking three and fanning two.
Ryan Bemish, Fragale and Zazzaro had two hits each in the loss. Pimentel blasted a solo homer while Bemish and Joshua Perez stroked doubles. Stahlman singled for Lee's other knock in the nine-hit attack.
Gavin Rogers and Jake Hartman pushed across two runs for the Tigers with two hits. Taylor Clemmons added a double, single and RBI. JD Roberts scored twice for the winners.
Tanner Elders started and gave the Tigers four innings on the bump. He allowed five hits and three earned runs. Kolby Crowley pitched an inning and picked up the win. Nathan Nicolosi recorded an out before Nick Rathke was called on in the sixth and seventh innings to register the save.
