SAINT LEO, Fla. – A four run first inning by the 23
rd-ranked Saint Leo Lions proved to be enough in handing the Lee baseball team a 6-4 loss to open up a three-game South Region series in the Sunshine State.
The Flames struck first as Tyler Payne lead off the game with an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Alan Smith's base knock.
The lead was short lived however as the Lions jumped on Flames starter Michael Hendricks (1-1). The junior was chased after just one-third of inning, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits. Hendricks struggled worked himself into a mess with three walks.
Peyton Isaacson, Saint Leo's all-region catcher, opened the scoring with a single up the middle. Brett Coffel followed with a run-scoring single of his own before Hendricks yielded back to back bases loaded walks to Mike Wyman and Aaron Portee.
Ian Turner came on in relief and settled things down on the bump as he tossed 5.2 innings allowing just one run on five hits while tallying five punch outs. Brandon Bolt threw the final two frames and surrendered one run.
"It's a tough day when the opposing team gets in your bullpen in the first inning of day 1 of a series. Turner and Bolt did a nice job keeping their offense down and allowing us to have a chance to get back in the game," said Lee skipper Mark Brew.
Joey Antonopolous (1-0) started on the mound for Saint Leo and went five innings. Antonopolous recorded six strikeouts and was effective after being spotted a 5-1 lead after two innings. Jeremy Peel came on to pitch the 3.1 relief innings.
Peel went out for the ninth with a 6-2 lead but was chased after giving up a two-run double to Miguel Pimentel. The rally would end there however as Trevor Sanchez came on to strikeout the next two batters to end the game and earn his second save of the young season.
Lee got production from a pair of seniors at the top of the lineup. Pimentel, hitting in the three-hole went 4 for 5 on the day while Payne set the table from his leadoff spot with two hits and scored three runs.
"It was good to see Payne swing it well from the leadoff spot and set the table for our offense. Pimentel had a nice day also.
We are still a work in progress and hopefully we can get it all clicking together tomorrow," said Brew.
The Flames (3-2) and Lions (4-1) will conclude the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
