Box Score YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Young Harris College struck for seven runs in the first two innings and that was too much for the Lee University baseball team to overcome in a 10-4 defeat on a cold and overcast Wednesday afternoon at Zell B. Miller Field.
The loss dropped the Flames to 16-10 overall while the surging Mountain Lions improved to 20-6. Lee returns to GSC action on Friday and Saturday, hosting Christian Brothers University. Friday's first pitch is slated for 4 p.m. and Saturday's doubleheader will get underway at 1 p.m.
Lee picked up eight hits and Isaiah French knocked in three of the Flames' four runs. In the third inning, Landon Franklin doubled and French blasted his seventh homer of the season. The Lee slugger entered the contest with a team-leading batting average of .408. Franklin was the only Lee hitter with two hits in the game.
The Flames scored a single run in the fifth. Nate Dunfee walked, and Franklin drilled his second double, putting runners on third and second. French picked up his third RBI of the game with a ground out that scored Dunfee. Lee's final run came in the ninth inning. Ryan Valdes picked up a free pass and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Noah Briggs was called on to pinch hit and promptly delivered a one-base knock that plated Valdes.
JJ Williams doubled in the loss while Luke Collier, Cody Turner and Braden Gabel had the Flames' other hits. Lee left eight runners on base and 12 went down on strikes.
The Flames used eight pitchers in the loss. Mason Bratcher (1-3) started, worked an inning and was charged with the defeat. He gave up two hits and two earned runs. Lee later got one inning of no-runs work from Landon Nease, Zach Tierney, Coates Massey and Will Chladny.
The Mountain Lions were led by their top hitters. Jackson Morgan ripped his 12th home run of the year and doubled. He drove in two runs. Carlos Martans, who came into the contest hitting .438, homered and also batted in two runs. All totaled, Young Harris collected 10 hits and left 11 runners on base. Lee pitchers issued 10 free passes.
Drew Sofield (5-0) was one of seven Mountain Lion pitchers used in the victory. He hurled 2.1 innings, allowed one hit and fanned five Flames. With Lee threatening to add more runs in the top of the ninth, Young Harris called on Trey Griffen, who struck out the final two hitters of the game.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"We dug ourselves too big of a hole early with the seven runs in the first two innings. They are too good of a team to play from behind, but that has been our issue recently on the mound, giving up big innings early. I thought after the second inning our bullpen did a solid job keeping opportunities limited for Young Harris. We've got another huge weekend series and we need to have a better start all weekend."
