MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After watching the first game of a doubleheader slip away, Lee battled back to claim the nightcap on Saturday against Christian Brothers at Nadicksbernd Field. The two teams will conclude the three-game GSC series on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.
The Flames stand at 13-13 in GSC play and 24-20 overall. The Bucs dropped to 7-22, 19-29. As far as the conference standings are concerned, Lee remains in good shape. West Alabama and Auburn Montgomery were beaten in three straight games against West Florida and Valdosta State on Friday and Saturday.
Game 1 – Christian Brothers 10, Lee 9
In one of the wildest games of the year, the Bucs scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and then held off a rally by the Flames in the top of the ninth to secure the win. Lee left 11 runners on base in the loss. In the fifth inning the sacks were jammed with no outs and no runs crossed the plate. In the ninth when the Flames rallied for two runs, runners were at second and third, again with no outs, and that is where the contest ended.
A key highlight was the hitting of freshman Malachi Cloud. He was 4-for-4 while tying a school record with three home runs. He also recorded four RBI. All totaled the Flames had five homers. Brandon Daniels and Riley Black joined the action with four-baggers. Black also had a good day with four hits, including a double and Daniels also had a two-base knock.
The Flames collected 15 hits. Noah Hattier had a double, a single and two RBI. Luke Hughes produced a pair of one-base knocks. He also scored twice. Cameron Land started and worked 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six earned runs. Sam Fulton came on for five solid innings but took the loss. He scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs. Sean Casteel recorded an out and gave up a pair of earned runs while Hunter Lane got Lee out of a jam in the eighth.
Ben Brocato knocked in five runs for CBU. He homered and was a key part of a five-run third inning. The Bucs rallied for four scores in the eight. Clay Facteau doubled, singled and scored three times in the win. Jarret Fowlkes banged out a two-base hit to go along with three singles. The Flames was guilty of a key error in the eighth. Travis Cole came on in relief of Jackson Sleeper, who pitched the first 6.1 innings, and got the win. Zach Sutton was credited with the save.
Game 2 – Lee 9, Christian Brothers 6
The Flames rode a pair of solid innings in the win over the Bucs. At the same time, Jack Nedrow improved his pitching record to 5-2 on the year but it was Hunter Lane who picked up his sixth save and truly helped save the day for the visiting Flames. Nedrow pitched four innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs. Lane came on for 2.2 frames and was outstanding. He gave up a hit, one earned run, struck out five and did not walk a hitter.
Lee jumped on top 3-0 in the second inning. Daniels walked and Cloud continued his hitting attack with a one-base hit. Black walked to load the bases and Isaac Quinones stepped up with a two-run double. Daniels scored on an RBI ground out by Nate Bynum.
The Bucs cut the margin to 3-1 on a homerun by Brocato in the bottom of the frame and tied the game at four in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Flames took the lead for good with five big runs in the top of the fifth inning. After Cam Suto had singled, Daniels ripped a two-run homer over the centerfield wall. Cloud was hit by a pitch, Black followed with a single, Bynum walked to load the bases and Hattier drove in two big runs with a single down the right-field line. Bynum would tally the final run of the inning when he scored on a wild pitch.
The Flames made the best of eight hits and unlike the opening game, left just six men on base. Joseph Gibson was the second of four Christian Brother pitchers and was charged with the loss. He surrendered three hits and four earned runs. Fowlkes was the only Buc with two hits in the loss. He tripled and scored a run while Jay White had a two-base knock and tallied a score.
