CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Steady pitching, timely hitting and key defensive plays was the difference as the Lee baseball team swept a doubleheader from visiting Auburn University at Montgomery on Saturday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium. The Flames claimed the opener 7-1 and turned back a late rally by the Warhawks in the nightcap to win 4-3. The two clubs will play the final game of the GSC series beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Game 1 – Lee 7, AUM 1

Jack Nedrow pitched eight innings of four-hit ball and allowed one earned run. He struck out six and walked one batter as he improved his record to 6-0 on the year. Ty Cobb came on to work the ninth inning and surrendered a hit and walked one batter. Dylan Standifer and Brandon Daniels recorded outstanding defensive plays to help spark the win.

It was a big day at the plate for JJ Williams. In the third inning Standifer and Daniels walked. They advanced to second and third, then scored when Williams singled for the first of his two RBI. It was a 2-1 game in the seventh when Lee loaded the bases on singles by Standifer and Cam Suto. Daniels was intentionally walked to load the bases. Matthew Batts drew a free pass and collected a RBI that plated Standifer.

Williams blasted a long grand-slam homer high over the left-field wall, giving him six runs batted in for the afternoon. He was the only Lee player with two hits in the victory. Standifer and Daniels scored two runs apiece.

Jarren Wright had a bunt single and scored AUM's only run of the game in the second inning. Cole McWhorter collected the RBI with a fly ball to left. Zach Dew was the only Warhawk player with two hits in the loss. Payte Williams (1-3) was the starting and losing AUM pitcher. In 6.2 innings, he allowed five hits and five earned runs.

Game 2 – Lee 4, AUM 3

The Flames got another solid pitching effort from Keegan Gagliardo (3-0). The lefty pitched six innings in the seven-inning contest. He gave up five hits and two earned runs, striking out four and walking one batter. Tim Gooden came on to work the final inning. He pitched himself out of a jam in the frame and picked up his second save of the year. He allowed three hits and an earned run, walking one and striking out one.

Lee jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning. Standifer led off the game with a one-base hit. Suto was safe on a fielder's choice. Daniels singled and Batts picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice.

The Flames made it a 3-0 game in the second. Isaiah French ripped a long homerun over the left-field wall. It was the first four-bagger of the freshman's career. Standifer followed with his second hit of the game, stole second and scored on a one-base knock of Suto's to make it a 3-0 contest.

AUM cut the margin to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning. Kasey Clark had a two-base hit and scored on a two-run homer by Cooper Doughman. The Flames came back with what turned out to be one of their biggest hits of the afternoon. Luke Collier lifted a long fly ball over the left-field fence to put Lee up 4-2.

Things got even more exciting in the top of the seventh inning. Ashton Thomas came on as a pinch hitter and blasted a double for AUM. Doughman picked up his third RBI of the game with a single that scored Thomas to make it 4-3. Dew was safe on an infield hit to load the bases. Wright grounded out to Lee's first-baseman Suto to end the contest and give Gooden the save.

Luke Turner was the starting and losing Warhawk pitcher. Over six innings, he allowed eight hits and four earned runs while Doughman did the damage at the plate for the visitors, picking up the homer, single and driving home all three runs. Dew was the only other AUM player with two hits.

Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:

"Our starting pitching led the way today, in a well-pitched day by both sides. Nedrow and Gagliardo both threw well and our bullpen was able to pitch around a few late rallies. We got some timely swings through some big home runs. Our defense played fairly well to support our pitching.

"We need to come to the ballpark tomorrow ready to go. You don't get many opportunities to sweep a quality opponent like AUM and we need to match the urgency they'll play with tomorrow."