The Lee baseball team opened a three-game Gulf South Conference series with visiting Christian Brothers University on Friday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium with 10-6 and 8-3 victories. The two teams will complete the series on Saturday afternoon with a nine-inning contest scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
"We missed some opportunities and left lots of guys on base today, but we were able to get enough big hits to push away from CBU," said Coach Mark Brew as his Flames improved to 21-10 overall and more importantly 12-10 in GSC play.
"Land and Fulton did a nice job in game one, and Nedrow got stronger as the game went on in game two. We got some production up and down the line up. We need to stay focused tomorrow. Christian Brothers competes really well and we will need to come out and match them tomorrow," said the Lee coach in closing.
Game 1 – Lee 10, CBU 6
The Flames sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs in the second inning to help pitcher Cameron Land (4-3) get credit for the win. The right-hander hurled 5.2 innings and allowed seven hits, three earned runs, walked two and struck out four. Sam Fulton came on for 3.1 innings. He allowed seven hits, three earned runs and picked up his third save.
In the six-run uprising, Jared Demkowicz ripped an inside the park three-run homer. Brandon Daniels also knocked in a pair of runs with a single. Dylan Standifer walked with the bases loaded and got credit for an RBI. Justen Freeman and Nate Bynum hit safely in the frame while Thomas Zazzaro, Freeman, Standifer, Daniels and Bynum crossed home in the inning.
Lee added two runs in the sixth inning. Issac Quinones singled and scored a run while Demkowicz reached on an error and tallied the other run. The Flames added two more insurance runs in the seventh. Freeman had his second hit of the afternoon and later scored on two wild pitches. Daniels, who paced Lee with three hits, walked and scored the final run of the contest.
Christian Brothers outhit the Flames 14-11 in the loss. Andrew Baldelli, Van True, Kelton Castillo, Jamarion White and Keagan Voss had two hits apiece. J.D. Goodspeed stroked a double and joined Antonio Hernandez, Ben Brocato, Alex Meadows and White with runs batted in. Travis Cole was the starting and losing Christian Brothers pitcher. He pitched the first four innings and allowed eight hits and six earned runs.
Game 2 – Lee 8, CBU 3
The Flames fell behind in the top of the third inning 1-0 when Castillo homered over the left-field fence, but the Flames rallied right back in the bottom of the inning when they sent nine men to the plate and regained the lead at 4-1.
With one out, Freeman started the rally with a single. Daniels walked and Demkowicz continued his hot hitting by driving home two runs with a double. Demkowicz scored on Quinones' RBI one-base hit. Luke Hughes would drive home Quinones with a single.
The Bucs rallied back in the top of the fourth with two runs. White singled and True blasted a two-run bomb over the right-field wall. Christian Brothers did not get a hit the rest of the way as Lee freshman pitcher Jack Nedrow retired 10 straight hitters to pick up the victory and push his record to 7-4.
Nedrow, who has now completed five straight games, allowed eight hits, three earned runs, struck out six and walked one. Sam Brumbaugh was the starting and losing Christian Brothers pitcher.
Lee hitters sealed the deal for the freshman pitcher in the fourth inning and again in the sixth. In the fourth, Zazzaro walked and scored on a two-run homer off the flagpole in left field by Standifer. In the sixth, Demkowicz was safe on a fielder's choice and scored on a homerun by Quinones.
Quinones paced the Flames with a homer, single and three RBI. Demkowicz had a single, double and an RBI. Hughes had two hits and an RBI. Daniels had two hits and Matthew Batts contributed a double in the victory.
