CLINTON, Mississippi – After dropping the first game of a three-game series with host Mississippi College on Friday evening, the Lee baseball team battled back to win the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader 6-3 before losing the nightcap, 4-3.
The Flames record slipped to 12-14 overall and 6-8 in Gulf South Conference play. Mississippi College stands at 10-16, 5-7. Lee will continue its road adventures on Tuesday in Greeneville, Tennessee for a 6 p.m. Eastern first pitch.
"We got good enough pitching to get the sweep today, but didn't get it done," said Coach Mark Brew. "We played much better and the team battled all day. Every series in the GSC is like this, and can turn on a single pitch, play, or hit. We just have to keep battling and working hard and things will start to go our way."
Game 1
Despite allowing the Choctaws three runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Flames kept plugging away, posting single runs in the first, third, fifth, sixth and finally adding two big runs in the top of the eighth inning to solidify the 6-3 victory.
The Flames outhit the Choctaws 11-6. Nate Bynum was moved to the top of the order and produced two hits, including a double and scored two runs. Dylan Standifer continued his fine hitting and posted a double and a single and drove home two runs. Cam Suto had two hits and scored a run. Brandon Daniels drilled a triple, single and collected an RBI, while Matthew Batts came on in a pinch-hit role in the ninth inning to deliver a one-base hit that plated two runs.
Thomas Zazzaro and Luke Hughes had hits and scored runs for the Flames while Jared Demkowicz was credited with an RBI and crossed home plate once.
Cameron Land pitched six innings and was credited with his third victory of the year against one loss. He allowed six hits, three earned runs, walked three and struck out five. Sam Fulton turned in another sparkling performance with three innings of relief work. He did not allow a hit and struck out three Choctaw hitters.
Jackson Bridges was the losing Mississippi College pitcher. In 5.2 innings, he gave up eight hits and four earned runs. David Dunn came on relief for 3.1 innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs.
Game 2
The Flames were only able to muster four hits in the second seven-inning game. Mississippi College went on top 2-0 in the third, but Lee battled back and tied the game 2-2 in the fourth before the Choctaws tallied two in the fifth and turned back a one-run rally in the top of the seventh to secure the 4-3 victory.
Justen Freeman homered in the seventh and singled earlier in driving home all three of Lee's runs in the loss. Zazzaro and Isaac Quinones had Lee's other hits, while Standifer and Demkowicz joined Freeman in scoring Lee's only runs.
Jack Nedrow (3-4) was Lee's starting and losing pitcher. He hurled five innings and allowed seven hits, four earned runs, no walks and struck out three. Sean Casteel pitched an inning, gave up a hit, and fanned one. The Lee defense was guilty of three errors.
Lane Willis had a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored for the Choctaws. Tristan Tigrett collected a double while Jackson Breedlove had a hit, two RBI and tallied a run. Gavin LeBlanc was the starter for the Choctaws and pitched four innings. Cooper Gadman came on for the final four innings and picked up the win. He gave up only one hit and an earned run while striking out four.
