Taking advantage of a second-inning error by visiting Lincoln Memorial University, Lee exploded for five runs and defeated the Railsplitters 7-4 on a windy and cloudy Tuesday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium. The Flames improved to 8-4 and LUM dropped to 7-4.
The second inning miscue led directly to a three-run homer by Thomas Zazzaro that plated Riley Majano and Nate Bynum. Earlier in the frame, Luke Hughes walked and Joshua Perez singled and had also scored before Zazzaro's four-bagger.
The margin reached 6-0 in the third inning. Dylan Standifer singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Perez's RBI one-base hit, his second hit of the day. LMU came back with single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the lead to 6-2 when Cameron Bowen tripled and scored on a sac fly by Carson Boles. In the fifth, DJ Alexander singled, went to second on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on a one-base knock by Collin Goda.
Lee added their final run and increased their lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Standifer doubled for his second hit of the day and then scored on an RBI single by Jared Demkowicz. Matthew Batts had Lee's other hit, a single in the first inning. The Railsplitters rallied for single runs in the seventh and eighth innings before the Flames closed the door.
Harvey was the starting and losing pitcher for LMU. He allowed three hits and no earned runs over two innings of work. Ethan Bobo and Beau Nichols followed Harvey to the mound and gave the Railsplitters six innings of four-hit baseball.
Sam Fulton started and worked five innings for the Flames and picked up his first pitching win. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, struck out three and walked one. Cole Matthaidess came on for one inning. Greyson Linderman pitched 1.2 innings and allowed an earned run, walked two and struck out one. Tim Gooden followed before Zazzaro was called on in the ninth inning and picked up the save.
"It was a good midweek win and Fulton led that effort. He gave us a five solid innings and our bullpen gave us a solid effort. Offensively, the big inning after the error was huge for us with Zazzaro's three-run homer. It wasn't our best offensive effort, but we found a way to scratch some extra runs after the big inning," said Lee head coach Mark Brew.
The Flames return to Gulf South Conference action on Friday when they host Valdosta State in a three-game series. Friday's single game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch while Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
