CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Matthew Batts and Luke Collier swung the big bats and five Lee University pitchers did the job as the Lee baseball team improved to 3-1 on the new season with a 6-4 victory over Lincoln Memorial University at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Batts was a perfect 2-for-2 with a homerun and a single. In the first inning Brandon Daniels singled and scored on the two-run blast by Batts. The Flames increased the lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning. This time it was Collier who went long-ball. Brantley Cutler walked and then Collier collect two RBI with his homer.

The Railsplitters cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth inning but the Flames salted the hard-fought win away with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. In the inning, Batts singled and later scored as did Daniels. Lee made the best of six hits. Batts and Daniels had a pair of hits while Josiah Miller and Collier collected one each. Collier finished the day with three RBI. 

Colt McKibben started and pitched two innings for the Flames, allowing three hits and an earned run. Ty Cobb followed, giving up six hits and three earned runs. Cole Matthaidess was next for an inning while Jax Howard got the call for 2.2 innings, allowing a pair of hits but issuing three free passes. He recorded the pitching win, going 1-1 on the year while Hunter Lane came on to save the day and retired the final out.

LMU pounded out 12 hits in the loss and three went for extra bases. Ryan Kurth had three hits while Kasten Harvey posted a pair of knocks and Joey LaMattina doubled, singled and drove in three of his team's four runs.

The Railsplitters used three pitchers. Payton Armour started and pitched the first four innings but it was Carter White who came on for 2.2 innings and was charged with the loss.

The Flames will return to action with schedule changes being made. A single game will be played with Mars Hill University at 5 p.m. on Friday. Another single game will be played on Saturday (Noon) followed by another nine-inning game on Sunday (1 p.m.)

Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:

"It was a really good mid-week win against a very solid LMU team. Our pitching staff made some big pitches when we had too. I thought Jax, Cole, and Hunter pitched really well.

"Matthew Batts had a great day at the plate. His at-bats were all quality and he gave us a big lift in the middle of the lineup. We had some loud outs as well, so I feel we are still swinging the bats well overall. We just need to continue to get better in two-strike counts.

"We have another challenge this weekend with Mars Hill. Weather looks wet, so it will be a great challenge for our mental toughness all weekend."