ROSSVILLE, Georgia – For the second time in the past two weeks, storms have caused serious damage to the outfield at Larry Carpenter Stadium. Before the three-game series with Frostburg State, Lee was able to repair the damage to the left field fence but another storm early Saturday morning did serious damage to the right-field wall and forced the final two games of the three-game series with Mississippi College to be moved to Ridgeland High School.
The Flames evened the three-game series by winning 17-4 in the opening contest on Saturday afternoon but the Choctaws fought back and claimed the series by scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning nightcap and claiming a 7-6 victory.
"It (Saturday) was one of the more adventurous days that I've ever been involved with on the baseball field," explained Coach Mark Brew. "To show up in the morning to storm damage to our field, and then the scramble to find a venue to be able to play took a lot of effort and patience by our coaching staff, team, and the Lee administrative staff.
"Also, thanks to the Mississippi College team and coaches for being patient as we worked through the process and thanks to Coach Harden and Ridgeland High School for allowing us to play on their brand new turf complex."
Saturday
Game 1 – Flames 17, Choctaws 4
Lee exploded for 13 hits and blasted five homeruns in the victory. Sam Fulton (4-1) pitched the complete seven innings in the run-rule contest. The big right-hander allowed three hits, four earned runs while striking out eight and walking two.
Noah Hattier came up large with his first homerun of the year. It was a three-run four-bagger in the third inning. He also plated a run with a walk. Dylan Standifer had three hits, including his seventh and eighth homers of the year. He drove in four runs and now has a team-leading 37 RBI on the year.
Brandon Daniels had a pair of four-baggers. He also stroked a double and finished the day with three RBI. For the year, Daniels leads the team with nine homeruns. Cam Suto homered and Malachi Cloud returned to the lineup with two hits, an RBI and two runs scored.
"We found our offense again today and were able to put together some big innings in game one and Sam (Fulton) really settled down and threw extremely well through tough conditions," added Coach Brew.
Game 2 – Choctaws 7, Flames 6
"We played in front the entire game and Nedrow and Linderman gave us solid efforts, but Miss College was able to get some big swings and defensive plays late. Overall, we played better today than Friday, but it's still disappointing not to be able to get the series," noted Coach Brew.
The two teams battled back and forth before the Flames went on top 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning only to see the Choctaws tie the game at six in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh inning, Jordan Rollins led off the frame with a double. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored what turned out to be the winning run on a single by Kolby McWilliams.
Mississippi College used three pitchers in the victory but it was Gabe Gardner who came on for the final two innings to shut down the Lee hitters and claim the pitching win. He did not allow a hit while striking out three batters.
For the Flames Jack Nedrow started and pitched 5.2 innings. He allowed eight hits, six earned runs. Greyson Linderman (3-2) came for 1.1 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run and was charged with the loss.
The Flames again played long-ball blasting four homers in defeat. Josiah Miller had two homers and increased his total to eight on the year. He drove in three runs and scored twice. Suto went deep for the second straight game and now has seven homeruns and joins Miller with 31 RBI. Cloud joined Suto with another homer. The freshman has five for the year. Hattier and Riley Black had two hits each for the Flames.
Cole Drake had three hits, including a homerun and a double and also scored twice for the Choctaws. Luis Alcantara joined in the homer act and knocked in two runs while Alex McWhorter had two hits and Rollins and JT Vance doubled.
