JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Lee University broke open a close battle by scoring five runs in the seventh inning and went onto a 9-2 victory over host Carson-Newman University on a cool Tuesday afternoon. The win improved the Flames to 11-3 overall and dropped the Eagles to 8-6. Lee returns to GSC action on Friday and will host Auburn University at Montgomery in a single nine-inning contest (4 p.m.). The two teams will complete the three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
The Flames sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh inning. Ryan Valdes and Keilin Sanders began the rally with one-base hits. Valdes scored the first run of the inning and Sanders tallied on a passed ball. Nate Dunfee put down a bunt single and later scored on an RBI one-base hit by Luke Collier. Isaiah French capped off the big inning with a two-run homer over the centerfield wall.
Lee broke open a scoreless contest with two runs in the fourth inning. JJ Williams walked and strolled home on a long home run over the left-centerfield fence by Casen Youngblood. The Eagles came right back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning. The Flames went on top for good in the top of the fifth without a hit. Sanders was hit by a pitch and later scored on a wild pitch. The final run of the game came in the ninth. Collier doubled and scored on a RBI two-base hit by Williams.
Williams and French finished with three hits apiece. French had two RBI to go along with his home run. Williams blasted a pair of doubles, scored once, and posted an RBI. Collier, Sanders and Dunfee added to Lee's 14-hit total. Collier tallied twice and knocked in a pair. Sanders crossed home plate twice and Dunfee scored once. French and Youngblood are tied for Lee's home-run lead with five apiece and Nate Caraballo has three.
Aided by the Flames errorless defense, Coach Mark Brew sent six pitchers to the mound. Cody Turner started. The lefty worked three innings and allowed just one hit. After a tough fourth inning start by Coates Massey, Tyler Pickens (2-0) was called on for 1.2 innings. He did not allow a run or hit and was credited with the win. Bryce Hawkins shut the Eagles down without a hit for two strong innings, and Alex Brew did the same for one inning. Hayden Choate came on to finish the day, allowing a hit in the ninth inning. All totaled, Lee pitchers gave up six hits and two earned runs.
The Eagles used seven hurlers. Alec Wilson (1-1) was charged with the defeat. Carson-Newman had only one player with two hits. Logan Floyd had a pair of knocks and drove in a run while Colton Evans had a hit and the other RBI.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"We played well today. We had some big two-out hits, the pitching staff did a great job, and we handled the ball defensively. I was really pleased with how Bryce Hawkins threw the ball, and it was good to see Choate throw well again. Offensively, French continues to swing a hot bat, and JJ, Collier, Dunfee, and Sanders had nice days at the plate. It's time to focus on a tough AUM team and we need to have a better performance at the Carp this weekend."
