Sophomore Joshua Perez collected the biggest hit of his young career when he singled home two run in the bottom of the 10^th inning (international rule) to help give the baseball team a 10-9 victory and a three-game sweep over Delta State in Gulf South Conference on Olympic Field at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Sunday afternoon.  

"I can't say how proud I am of my guys. Sticking with it and responding multiple times says a lot about them. I am excited for JP (Perez). He had great at bats today and along with Riley (Black) who provided us some big at bats at the bottom of the line-up," said Lee coach Mark Brew after the emotional weekend series as the fourth-ranked Flames improved to 14-2 overall and 13-1 in GSC play.  

Delta State dropped to 6-10 overall and 5-10. "They are a much better team than their record shows right now and will be heard from before the regular season is completed," pointed out Brew.  

It was the second straight game that the Flames and Statesmen had gone into extra innings and the international rule. Sunday's battle was nothing like the Saturday affair. Both teams went into the extra frame deadlocked at eight.  

The Statesmen grabbed a 9-8 lead in the top of the 10^th inning thanks to a Lee error that later allowed Peyton Faulkner to score on a sacrifice fly by Blake Wolfering.  

The Flames countered back. Dylan Standifer was placed at second base and Colton Yeager reached on an error to give Lee runners at first and third. With one out, Riley Black was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up the key shot up the middle by Perez to plate Standifer and Yeager with the winning runs.  

The victory did not come without its share of heroes. Right-hander Alan Rickman worked 4.1 innings in relief. He gave up only three hits, one earned run, while striking out five. Veteran Andy Rivera pitched the final three innings and picked up his first win of the year. He struck out four and did not issue a free pass. 

"Alan Rickman did a great job settling us down and Andy Rivera continues to be dominant on the backend of the bullpen," praised Brew about the pitching performance of the pair.  

Delta State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Kirkland Trahan blasted his second home run of the series while Jake Barlow doubled to help produce the three scores. Lee tied the game in the third inning. Black was hit by a pitch and scored from first on a double by Perez. Thomas Zazzaro had a two-base knock to score Perez and Justen Freeman tied the game with a single.  

The Flames seemed to be taking control of the contest when they plated five big runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-4 lead. Alan Smith and Ryan Beamish started the frame with one-base hits and Standifer was hit by a pitch. Yeager walked to force home one run before Landon Silver ripped a grand-slam homer.  

The Statesmen were not going away without a fight. In the seventh inning, Chad Ragland singled, Hayden White doubled and Trahan picked up his third RBI of the afternoon with a double. Josh Smeltzer kept the inning going with a single. Peyton Faulkner plated a run with his hit and Wolferding tied the game at eight with a two-base hit that scored a pair. Neither team scored again until the 10^th inning although both squads had opportunities but Statesmen pitcher Matthew Sneed had closed the door on the Lee scoring for four innings.   

This week's single game with Carson-Newman has been moved to Tuesday, March 23. The Flames will remain home for another GSC three-game series on Friday and Saturday. Montevallo is scheduled for a single game on Friday at 5 p.m. while the two clubs will tangle in a doubleheader beginning at 1 on Saturday.