CLINTON, Miss. – After dropping the first two games in the three-game series against a strong Mississippi College team over the weekend, the Lee baseball team found a way to pull out a victory in the final contest on Saturday afternoon. After losing Saturday's first game 11-5, the Flames battled back to claim the nightcap 11-7. Lee stands at 8-7 in GSC play and 16-9 overall while the Choctaws are 10-5, 16-11.
The Flames continue their road adventures on Tuesday, traveling up the mountain to Young Harris, Ga. to face a highly ranked Young Harris College team. Lee will return to Larry Carpenter Stadium and host Christian Brothers University in a three-game GSC series on Friday and Saturday.
Game 2 – Flames 11, Choctaws 7
Lee was outhit 12-4 but found a way to pull out the victory in the final game of the series. The long ball helped spell the difference plus solid relief pitching.
The Flames fell behind 4-0 after four innings and appeared to be in deep trouble. However, they exploded for eight runs in the top of the fifth inning and claimed an 8-4 lead. The uprising began when Nate Caraballo reached on an error. Aiden McClary singled and Braden Gabel was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
The scoring started when Nate Dunfee was hit by a pitch and picked up an RBI that scored Caraballo. Landon Franklin sent a sacrifice fly ball to left that scored McClary. Luke Collier had a one-base hit and Gabel crossed home plate. Isaiah French was hit by a pitch. Dunfee and Collier tallied two more runs on wild pitches. JJ Williams picked up a free pass, and Cody Turner put an end to the wild scoring when he belted a two-run homer. The result was eight runs on only three hits.
The Choctaws refused to go away and came right back with three runs in their half of the fifth and cut the lead to 8-7. Lee answered with three big runs in the seventh to make it an 11-7 game. The three runs were scored on only one hit. French was hit by a pitch, Williams walked and Caraballo helped his team celebrate with a big three-run homer.
Dylan Van Metteren was Lee's starting pitcher. He worked 2.1 innings and gave up six hits and three earned runs. Tyler Pickens (3-0) followed for 2.1 innings and got the victory. He surrendered five hits and two earned runs. Turner turned in an outstanding relief effort and picked up his first save of the year. In 2.1 innings, he allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three.
While Lee was collecting only four hits, the Choctaws banged out 12 hits, including a home run by Will Langston and three hits and two RBI by Cade Gadman. Cooper Cooksey (0-2) was charged with the loss. In 4.2 innings, he allowed only two hits and seven unearned runs. Dylan Cope came on for 1.1 innings, and Will Daniel pitched the final inning. He gave up a home run and three earned runs.
Game 1 – Choctaws 11, Flames 5
Lee outhit Mississippi College in the opening contest 13-11 but came up short in the slugfest. The Choctaws jumped on top 4-0 in the opening frame but Lee battled back and grabbed a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning before the home team tallied four runs in the bottom of the frame to settle the issue.
Isaiah French enjoyed a big day at the dish. He blasted a homerun, two singles, scored twice, and knocked in two runs. Landon Franklin doubled and had a one-base knock. He collected an RBI while Ryan Valdes also doubled and pushed one run across the plate. Braden Gabel got into the act with a pair of hits and scored a run.
Aiden McClary joined the doubles group and also had an RBI while Cody Turner and JJ Williams had Lee's other hits. The Flames used four pitchers in the loss. Gage Shaver (2-2) started and suffered the defeat. In 4.2 innings, he allowed eight hits and five earned runs. Hayden Choate pitched an inning. Braylon Hall followed for 1.1 frames and Will Chladny pitched the final inning.
The Choctaws had four extra-base hits, including a home run and a double by JT Thigpen. Jake LaRocca and Nick Slonaker also had two-base hits. Cade Gadman and Slonaker were the RBI leaders with two each. Eight of the nine starters in the Mississippi College lineup had base hits.
Coby Gollott (4-1) pitched six innings and got the victory. He scattered eight hits and allowed five earned runs, fanning seven Lee hitters and did not walk a batter. Blake Gollott came on for the final three innings and the record shows he was credited with the save. He allowed three hits and no runs, striking out four and walking one.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"We found a way in the final game to salvage the series. You don't like to say must win at this point in the season, but it was a big win for us. I'm proud of the fight the team showed. Cody had a huge swing and big game on the mound to finish and Caraballo's three-run homer was a huge lift late."
