CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Lee University baseball team used eight pitchers and collected nine timely hits in posting an impressive 6-3 non-conference victory over 9th-ranked University of North Georgia at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The win improved the Flames to 7-3 overall while the Nighthawks dropped to 10-2.
Lee will return to GSC action for a scheduled three-game series with the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday and Saturday. Friday's first pitch is slated for 4 p.m. (EST) while the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. (EST).
The top of the Flames batting order produced six hits and drove in two runs. Landon Franklin banged out a pair of singles and scored two runs from his lead-off spot. Luke Collier followed with two hits, a run scored and knocked in a run. Isaiah French continued his steady hitting with a hit and a RBI.
Aidan McClary came up with a key hit in the fourth inning that scored two runs. Braden Gabel legged out a double that plated a run and JJ Williams had Lee's other RBI. Cody Turner and Casen Youngblood also had a one-base knock. Youngblood tallied a run in the fourth inning.
The Flames played errorless baseball behind starting pitcher Mason Bratcher. He worked two innings and allowed one earned run. Coach Mark Brew then called on Hayden Choate, Braylon Hall, Zach Tierney, Coates Massey, Will Chladny, Tyler Pickens and Cason Engert. Choate, Hall, Pickens and Engert did not allow a hit while Hall (1-0) was credited with the win and Engert got his first save of the year.
Cam Hodge blasted a home run in the sixth inning for the Nighthawks. Schley Gordy doubled and scored while Brody Yeomans and Zach Aschoff had the other hits for North Georgia.
Ethan Finch was the starting and losing Nighthawk pitcher. In 3.2 innings, he allowed six hits and four earned runs. Three other North Georgia hurlers followed Finch to the mound. Cohen Rogers surrendered an earned run in 1.1 frames while Ryan Taylor gave up two hits and an unearned run in two innings.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"I was proud of our response today after a tough weekend. We had several guys make major contributions on the mound today, many with it being the first time on it this year. We put together a great defensive game and had some big two-out hits as part of the three-run fourth inning. Hopefully, this momentum will help get our minds right as we head to play a tough UAH team."
