The Lee University baseball team warmed up for a key Gulf South Conference series this weekend by defeating Emmanuel College in a non-conference game inside Larry Carpenter Stadium on Olympic Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Flames (23-19) jumped out to an 8-1 lead after three innings and never looked back in the 12-1 victory. The win was Lee's 12
th in the last 14 games and sets the stage for the series at Montevallo on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start and Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
A total of 48 players participated in the contest that lasted two hours and 55 minutes. The Lions sent eight pitchers to the mound and the Flames also used eight hurlers. Lee starter Landon Maynor pitched 2.1 innings and was credited with his first win of the year. Greyson Linderman worked 1.2 frames and the six other Lee pitchers went to the mound for no more than one inning. Lion starter Hunter Ferguson was charged with the defeat.
Matthew Batts led Lee's 14-hit attack. He had three hits in four trips to the plate, including a two-run double and a two-run homer. "I was really pleased with how the offense performed tonight. A lot of our guys had big swings. I thought Matthew Batts really did a nice job in the middle of the lineup," praised Lee Coach Mark Brew.
Thomas Zazzaro had a two-run homer in the second inning and also singled. Brandon Daniels blasted a homerun over the scoreboard in right-center field in the fourth inning. Jared Demkowicz doubled and scored three runs. Nate Bynum had a two-base hit, a single, knocked in a pair of runs and tallied twice. Dylan Standifer ripped three singles in five trips to the dish, picked up an RBI and scored two times.
The Lions had six hits. Brody Campbell doubled while Luke Patty, Cody Minnis, Judd Roberts, Dustin Frost and Jonathan Manibusan had the other hits. Minnis scored the only run for Emmanuel in the third inning.
Lee pitchers, led by Linderman (3 strikeouts), fanned 12 Lion hitters. Maynor struggled with control problems for the first time this year and walked five Emmanuel hitters, but Flame hurlers only issued six free passes the entire game.
"Our pitchers did a nice job as we were able to get several out on the field who hadn't pitched in a little while," added Brew. "We have probably one of the toughest road series this weekend at Montevallo. It will be a huge test for us, but we've been playing really well, and we are excited for the opportunity."
The Flames will return home on April 29-30 and will host West Florida. On Friday (April 29) the Flames will honor the seniors and then Saturday will be Military Appreciation Day.
