DAHLONEGA, Georgia – North Georgia scored seven runs on nine hits, including three doubles, in the first inning and turned back a couple of rallies in handing Lee a 10-4 defeat on a sunny and cool Sunday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium.
"Hats off to North Georgia, they came out today and really swung the bats well early and put us in a tough position again," explained Coach Mark Brew after the host Nighthawks claimed the series 2-1.
Sam Fulton gave up seven runs on seven hits in the first inning. Grayson Linderman came on for 2.1 innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs but he walked six while striking out two. Cade Kozak did not allow an earned run in working 2.1 innings, surrendering two hits. He walked a pair and struck out three. Jax Howard pitched two innings and allowed three hits and an earned run. He fanned a pair. Tim Gooden pitched a perfect ninth inning and recorded two strikeouts.
"We got some nice innings late to settle things down from Kozak, Howard and Gooden," stressed Brew. "But we could not get the big hit when we needed it to climb back in the game. Our effort was good. We still need to work on some execution on the mound and being able to put together some big innings offensively."
All totaled, the Flames had eight hits against five North Georgia pitchers. Eddie Galatas hurled 2.1 innings and was credited with the victory after Jay Henley started and pitched the first 3.1 frames.
Luke Hughes was the only Lee hitter with two hits. Thomas Zazzaro, Brandon Daniels, Dylan Standifer, Matthew Batts, Justen Freeman and Joshua Perez had Lee's other hits. Standifer collected a double.
Lee battled back with a pair of runs in the second inning. Batts singled and Freeman reached on an error. Perez picked up an RBI with a hit and Hughes drove home Freeman with a one-base knock.
The Flames added a single run in the fifth when Standifer doubled and scored on Freeman's single. In the sixth, Lee's final runs crossed the plate when Jared Demkowicz walked, advanced to second on Zazzaro's single and scored for an RBI hit by Daniels.
The Nighthawks ripped five doubles and finished the contest with 15 hits. Crews Taylor, Tim Conway, Will Hardigree, Jake Arnold and Connor Cross each had two hits. Jorge Arispuro was the RBI leader with three while Arnold and Cross had two apiece.
"It's early, and our team has several new faces," pointed out Coach Brew. "We are working through lineup construction and rotations on the mound. We have another tough test with a very good Carson Newman team on Tuesday."
