DAHLONEGA, Georgia – Host University of North Georgia evened the three-game series against the Lee baseball team at one game apiece on a sunny 42-degree Saturday afternoon by handing the Flames a 14-0 defeat at the Bob Stein Stadium. The two teams will decide the series in a rubber game beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
"Too many freebies against a good team like North Georgia will always end in a result like this. We simply didn't challenge hitters and had inability to throw off-speed pitches for strikes. Offensively, we got away from our approach when the game got out of hand. They did a great job challenging us, but we just couldn't put together any competitive at bats," pointed out Lee Coach Mark Brew. "All you want in a big series on the road is a chance to win the series on Sunday and we still have that opportunity, but we will need to play with way more aggressiveness to win tomorrow."
A big day by Nighthawk All-American Nik Levensteins and twelve walks issued by four Lee pitchers, helped spell the defeat. Levensteins got the Nighthawks ignited with a two-run homer in the first inning and followed that up with a grand slam homerun in the fifth and finished the day with eight RBI. All totaled, North Georgia made the best of nine hits with Tim Conway and Jorge Arispuro driving in a pair of runs each.
The Flames only had four hits off three Nighthawk pitchers. Red-shirt freshman Matthew Batts had three hits and Tim Suto had Lee's other hit.
Jack Nedrow was the starting and losing pitcher. He worked 1.1 innings allowing three hits, five earned runs and walked three. Cameron Land came on for 3.1 innings surrendering two hits, three earned runs and issuing three free passes. Seth Coffelt did not register an inning pitched however, he did give up a hit, three earned runs and walked one. Cole Matthaidess rounded out the day for the Flames. In 3.1 innings, he gave up three hits, two earned runs and issued five free passes while striking out four hitters.
Pierce Williams worked five innings of three-hit ball and got the pitching victory. He walked three and fanned four. Pete Weil followed for three innings and was perfect in striking out five Lee batters. Caleb Mitchell came on to work in the final inning and give up a hit and picked up one of his team's 10 strikeouts.
