Malachi Cloud drove in five runs and Isaiah French accounted for four RBI in Lee's 15-5 seven-innings run-rule victory over University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium.
The first GSC win of the season for the Flames improved their record to 1-3 in conference play and 7-5 overall while the Chargers dropped to 2-2, 7-5. The series between the two teams will continue on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader.
Huntsville jumped on top 3-1 after 1 ½ innings and never led again as the Flames exploded for four runs in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead. The Chargers came right back with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to cut the margin to 8-5, but the rest of the afternoon belonged to Lee. The Flames posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth and then made it a 15-5 game with five big runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Nelson Smith was called on to pitch the top of the seventh inning and quickly recorded three outs and the 10-run rule ended the contest and gave Lee its second straight run-rule victory.
Malachi Cloud blasted a grand-slam homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. He finished the day with a pair of hits and five RBI. French tallied a triple and a single. He also drew a walk to plate a run and his day ended with four RBI and a pair of runs scored.
JJ Williams continued his fine work at the dish. He ripped a long homerun over the left-field fence, stroked a double and a one-base hit. He finished with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Ashton Simmons also had a double, a bunt single and scored twice. Luke Collier had a two-base hit, one RBI and tallied four runs. Levi Cloud joined in with a double and a RBI. Tucker Platt rounded out Lee's 12th hit and scored a run.
Cooper Casteel (2-0) worked six innings and recorded the pitching win. He allowed six hits, three earned runs, fanned six and walked three. Smith made quick work in retiring all three batters he faced in the seventh inning. Will Tarpley (2-1) was the losing Charger pitcher. He worked 3.1 innings and allowed seven hits and seven earned runs. Jacob Peters was called on for 2.1 frames and Cole Loftis was credited with one out.
JC Wilburn was a perfect 3-of-3 including a double for Huntsville. Jackson Lindsey singled home and scored a run. All totaled, the Chargers collected six hits with Presley Walker and Sean Lapinsken hitting the other one-base knocks in the loss.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"Cooper and Nelson did a really good job on a really good offense. Our defense had some lapses at times, but we were able to get enough offense to keep distance from them.
"I was really proud of how our hitters stepped up and I thought Isaiah French and Malachi Cloud had some really good swings today. JJ keeps setting the tone from the top of the lineup and we got good production throughout the lineup today. Tomorrow's a new day and we need to come out and set the tone early."
