The second-ranked Lee baseball team completed a three-game sweep of visiting Mississippi College on Monday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium. After winning the first two in convincing style, the Flames had to battle back and win in the 10^th inning (international rules) 10-9 over the Choctaws. 

Mississippi College jumped on top in the first inning and never trailed until Lee fought back with four runs in the eighth to go on top for the first time 9-8 in the bottom of the inning. The Choctaws came right back and tied the game at nine in the top of the ninth on a long homerun by Ken Scott.  

The Flames held Mississippi College scoreless in the top of the 10^th and then loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and won on a bloop single by Ryan Beamish to left centerfield. The victory improved the Lee record to 32-4 overall and a league leading 26-3 in the Gulf South Conference standings. Mississippi College dropped to 15-18, 12-16. 

"What a way to cap off the series. My hat is off to these guys. Even when we aren't playing well, they find ways to fight back into the game and that happened again today," said a pleased Lee coach Mark Brew. "We've got another stiff challenge on the road at West Florida. It's a great test going into the conference tournament,"  

The Flames out-hit the Choctaws 17-12 but double plays and fly-ball outs seemed to turn away Lee rallies. At the same time, Mississippi College was riding the pitching of Bryce Lewis for 6.2 innings. He surrendered 12 hits but only three earned runs. The Flames got to reliever Dylan Marsh and Dustan Dille in the bottom of the eighth before tagging the loss on David Dunn who worked the final 1.2 innings. 

The Flames sent nine men to the plate in the eighth inning and put four runs on the board to finally take the lead. Nate Bynum got the key rally going with a single. Riley Black walked, and Thomas Zazzaro ripped a double that plated one run. Justen Freeman followed with a two-base hit that pushed two more runs across the plate. Colton Yeager stroked a sacrifice fly that put Lee on top 9-8.  

After the Choctaws tied the game, the Flames claimed victory in the bottom of the 10^th after holding Mississippi College scoreless in the top of the frame. Freeman had a two-base hit and a pair of singles in knocking in two runs and scoring two more. Bynum countered with three hits including a two-base hit. He also collected two runs batted in and tallied twice. Zazzaro joined Alan Smith, Dylan Standifer and Yeager with two hits apiece. 

Chandler Ring started and worked a pair of innings. He gave up two earned runs. Tyler Fairchild followed with 2.1 innings. He allowed five hits and five earned runs. Andrew Franklin turned the game around for the Flames with 1.2 innings of scoreless ball. Alex Harper-Cook followed for three innings. He allowed only three hits and an earned run while Michael Hendricks worked a perfect 10^th inning. He was credited with the pitching win. 

"Franklin, Harper-Cook and Hendricks did a nice job slowing down a good offense and our defense once again was stellar. Offensively, Bynum gave us a big spark and Freeman continues to swing a hot stick," pointed out Coach Brew. 

The Choctaws had a double and homerun from Dylan Duplechain. Scott added to his homerun with two other hits. Dakota Kennedy doubled, and Matt Pickering enjoyed a good day with a triple that pushed two big runs across the plate.