MONTEVALLO, Alabama – The University of Montevallo baseball team improved to 32-11 overall, 15-9 in GSC play, and posted its 21^st win at Bob Reisner Stadium by handing Lee University a 5-4 defeat on Friday afternoon. The loss moved the Flames to 23-20, 13-11. The two clubs will battle again on Saturday in a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. EDT first pitch. 

The contest went back and forth until the bottom of the sixth inning. The Flames opened the scoring in the second. Jared Demkowicz walked, and Isaac Quinones blasted a two-run homer to put the Flames on top. The Flacons came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Brandon Moore singled and scored when Riley Cain tripled. Will Pratt tied the game with a single to left center. 

Montevallo tallied a single run in the bottom of the third and took a 3-2 lead, thanks to a throwing error by the Flames that produced the unearned run. Lee quickly tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Brandon Daniels doubled to right and Quinones followed his fine hitting day with a two-base hit down the right-field line, scoring Daniels.  

A controversial play also developed in third inning. Quinones was on second after his double. Cam Suto followed with a single and as Quinones rounded third and appeared headed for home, he collided with the Falcon third baseman. The umpire called obstruction but then deemed that Quinones would not have scored on the play and left him at third. However, the Falcon outfielder had made his throw back into second and apparently had already conceded the Lee runner scoring. 
With the run wiped off the board, the Flames still managed to take the lead again in the top of the sixth inning. Daniels was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a ground out by Quinones and scored on a single to centerfield by Suto.  

The Falcons rallied back in the bottom of the sixth. A single and a sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position. Moore followed with his second hit of the day to drive in the tying run and Pratt unloaded a triple down the right-field line that turned out to push the winning run across the plate. 

"We certainly pitched well enough to win, but couldn't get some big hits when needed," commented Coach Mark Brew. "I also felt we lost a run on a judgment obstruction call where they didn't advance the runner. We need to bounce back quickly and get ready for 16 big innings tomorrow." 

The Flames only managed six hits off four Falcon pitchers. Gino Cozzi (6-5) worked six innings and allowed all six Lee hits and four earned runs. He struck out seven and walked three. After going to the bullpen for two left-handers, Montevallo called on Connor Phelan, who pitched the final 1.2 innings and got credit for his fifth save of the year. All three Falcon relievers did not allow a hit. 

Quinones and Suto had two hits and drove in two runs for the Flames. Daniels had a hit and scored twice. Justen Freeman collected the other hit while Demkowicz posted a run. 

Cameron Land started and hurled five innings for the Flames. He surrendered 10 hits and three earned runs, striking out three and allowing no walks. Sam Fulton (4-2) was charged with the tough loss. In three innings, he gave up just two hits and allowed an earned run.