OXFORD, Alabama – Gulf South Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year Jack Nedrow hurled seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one earned run and striking out 12, in leading 5^th-seeded Lee to a 9-1 victory over 4^th-seeded Auburn Montgomery in the opening round of the GSC tournament being played at Choccolocco Park.

While Nedrow was shutting the door on the Warhawk hitters, freshman Cam Suto was supplying the key hits. He delivered a three-run homer in the fifth inning and then came back with another three-run shot in the eighth to easily cap the victory for the 28-21 Flames.

"Nedrow turned in a tremendous performance," praised Lee Coach Mark Brew. "Our offense kept traffic on the bases all night and Suto got those two big swings to help us pull away from them. I was cautious of how we would come out in the first few innings after sitting around for a long time waiting for our game to start but I was proud of the energy our guys showed. It was a long day, and we will get some rest and play the night game (8 p.m. Eastern) tomorrow. It will be another big challenge regardless of the opponent." The Flames will face the winner of the Delta State-Shorter contest slated for late Friday night.

Lee broke on top 1-0 in the first inning. Thomas Zazzaro singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Isaac Quinones. In the fifth, Dylan Standifer singled, Jared Demkowicz walked and Suto unloaded a three-run blast over the left-center field wall to put the Flames on top 4-1.

In the eighth, Zazzaro and Demkowicz walked sending Suto to the plate who promptly ripped his second three-run homer as the margin reached 8-1. The final run of the game occurred in the ninth when Zazzaro walked, later stole third and scored when the AUM pitcher was called for a balk. Matthew Batts finished with two hits and Zazzaro had a pair of hits to join Suto in Lee's 10-hit attack.

The Warhawks' only run of the game came in the second inning when Kasey Clark hit a solo homer. Joe Hartsfield was the only AUM player with two hits.

Lee's Tim Gooden came on for one inning in the eighth and gave up a hit, walked one and struck out two. Sean Casteel followed and pitched a perfect ninth inning. The Warhawks used seven pitchers. Luke Turner, a member of the All-GSC team worked 5.2 innings and was charged with the loss. Nedrow got the victory and improved his record to 9-4.