CLEVELAND, Mississippi – After dropping the first game of a three-game series on Saturday to host Delta State University, the Lee University baseball team battled back in impressive style on Sunday afternoon to earn a split with the Statesmen. The Flames claimed the opener 4-3 and dropped the nightcap after leading for 6½ innings, 6-5.
"Our team played great all day today. One inning shouldn't take away from how well we played in a tough environment. It stings, but I'm proud of these guys and the effort and execution they had," explained Lee Coach Mark Brew after the Flames ended the Statesmen's eight-game winning streak with the first-game victory.
"Sam Fulton and Jack Nedrow both turned in magnificent performances and our offense had some big swings in both games. I saw a lot of good things today from our team and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field Tuesday," concluded Coach Brew.
The Flames will return to Larry Carpenter Stadium and Olympic Field on Tuesday afternoon and will host Carson-Newman University in a single game beginning at 4 p.m.
Game 1
Fulton, a red-shirt freshman turned in his best effort of the season in hurling seven innings of seven-hit ball and improved his record to 3-1 with the victory. He allowed one earned run, struck out eight, did not walk a batter but did hit one. Sean Casteel came on for 0.1 inning and allowed two runs (one earned) and one hit.
Another key story had to be the performance of Alan Zhang Carter. The right-hander made his second appearance of the season and pitched 1.2 innings of near-perfect baseball. He walked one and fanned four, picking up the save.
The Flames went to work in the first inning when Dylan Standifer drilled a solo homer over the left-field wall. The lead increased to 4-0 in the sixth inning. Standifer started the inning with a double. Jared Demkowicz walked and both runners advanced to second and third on a sac bunt by Luke Hughes. Cam Suto ripped a three-run ball over the left-field wall to give Lee the four-run cushion.
Delta State added a solo run in the bottom of the sixth and then cut the margin to 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth before Carter came on to close the door. Blayke Dendy homered and singled for the Statesmen while Kirkland Trahan had two hits. Hammer Franks was charged with the pitching loss.
Standifer finished with three hits and scored two runs. Thomas Zazzaro doubled and singled and Suto had a single to go with his three-run shot. Brandon Daniels and Justen Freeman had Lee's other hits.
Game 2
The Flames led until the final inning in the seven-inning affair. Lee jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning. Standifer continued his hot hitting with a homer over the centerfield fence. Not to be outdone, Demkowicz followed with a four-bagger over the right-centerfield wall. Delta cut the margin to 2-1 in the bottom of the second and did not score again until the final inning when they put five runs on the board and claimed the 6-5 win.
The Flames scored three runs in the fifth and had a 5-1 lead entering the seventh inning. In the fifth with one out, Zazzaro walked and Standifer was hit by a pitch. Demkowicz followed with his second homerun of the afternoon, scoring Zazzaro and Standifer.
In the seventh inning the Statesmen rallied to salvage the split and most of the damage came with two outs. Two Delta players were hit by pitches and Hayden White doubled to drive home two runs and cut the Lee lead to 5-3. A single followed and another batter was hit by a pitch. An intentional walk loaded the bases before Wyatt Pratt became the fourth batter in the inning to be hit by a pitch and pushed the winning run across the plate.
Jack Nedrow was the starting and losing Lee pitcher. His record dropped to 4-2 on the year. In 6.2 innings he allowed eight hits, six earned runs, walked only one, struck out six but hit two batters. Tim Gooden came on and walked one batter but also hit two.
Delta State used three pitchers. Harrison Haley started for 4.2 innings. He gave up five earned runs. Jackson Rutledge followed for 1.1 innings and did not allow a run. Charles Darnall was credited with the pitching win after hurling the seventh inning. Trahan had two hits and drove in two runs for the Statesmen. Jake Barlow homered and singled for the winners.
