VALDOSTA, Ga. – Lee bats exploded for 17 hits in a 13-5 victory over host Valdosta State to open a three-game GSC series at Billy Grant Field on Saturday afternoon. The Flames improved to 18-14 overall and 8-8 in the conference standings. The Blazers slipped to 18-9, 10-6.
Cam Suto unloaded for a (one game) career high five hits and scored three runs to lead the hitting attack on four Blazer pitchers. Brandon Daniels followed with three hits, five RBI and scored a run while freshman Malachi Cloud added a double, two singles, collected a pair of RBI and tallied twice in the romp.
Dylan Standifer was his usual self with a pair of one-base knocks. He also drew a pair of walks and scored twice. Noah Hattier did his part in the leadoff spot by collecting two singles, drawing a walk and crossing home plate two times. Nate Bynum joined the action with a hit that plated two runs while Ashton Simmons had the other Lee safety.
"I was really proud of the offense today against a really good pitching staff," pointed out Coach Mark Brew after the long day came to a close. "We hit a lot of hard ground balls and line drives and kept pressure on Valdosta."
The Flames quickly jumped on top with three runs in the first inning and made it a 5-0 game with two more runs in the third. Valdosta State made it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the fifth but Lee quickly put the contest out of reach with six big runs in the top of the sixth inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate.
The Blazers mounted another comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh and cut the lead to 11-5. Coach Brew went to his bullpen for the second time and called on Tim Gooden to put out the fire. For good measure the Flames added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings.
"Cam Land gave us a quality start and Timmy (Gooden) found his groove after his first inning of work and he pitched well for the final six outs," noted Brew. Land improved to 3-2 after getting credit for the win. He pitched 5.2 innings and gave up eight hits, two earned runs, struck out five and walked three. Keegan Gagliardo came on for two-thirds of an inning. Gooden, in an impressive role, finished the final 2.2 frames. He surrendered just one hit, no runs, struck out six batters and walked only one. Zach Dodson was the starting and losing VSU pitcher.
The GSC series continues with a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. "It is another big day, and we need some quality starts from Sam (Fulton) and Jack (Nedrow). The bullpen needs to continue to step up like they did today."
