MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Disappointment best describes the Lee baseball three-game series with the University of Montevallo on Friday and Saturday. After dropping a heartbreaker (16-12) on Friday evening, the Flames bounced back and shot down the Falcons in the opening game on Saturday 21-3 in the run-rule seven-inning contest.
The seven-inning nightcap saw Lee leading 15-2 after five innings, only to see the Falcons come flying back and score seven runs in the sixth and seven more in the seventh to walk off with the 16-15 win.
The two-out-of-three series defeats dropped the Flames to 12-8 in GSC action and 20-12 overall while Montevallo improved to 9-12, 16-19. Lee continues road play on Tuesday moving onto Dahlonega, Ga. to face the University of North Georgia.
Game 1 – Lee 21, Montevallo 3
The Flames exploded for 10 runs on six hits in the first inning and Gage Shaver (4-2) pitched the complete run-ruled seven-inning contest. Landon Franklin highlighted the first inning with a grand-slam homerun. It was his second homer of the season.
In the inning, Cody Turner knocked in a pair of runs with a one-base hit. JJ Williams doubled home a run while Aiden McClary and Braden Gabel had the other hits and RBI.
Lee continued the hitting attack by finishing with 15 knocks on the afternoon. McClary led the way with a double, two singles, four RBI and three runs scored. Franklin added to his grand slam with two more hits and crossed the plate three times. Gabel banged out two hits, knocked in a pair of runs and tallied three runs.
Keilin Sanders was not about to be outdone. He garnered a two-base hit, a single, two RBI and ran across the plate four times. Luke Collier found a way to collect three RBI and ran his total to 40 runs batted in on the season. Isaiah French and Williams joined the crowded field with runs scored while French collected his 33rd RBI.
The lefty Shaver was solid from start to finish. In seven innings, he allowed four hits, two earned runs, fanned four and walked two. Luke Holbrook was the starting and losing Falcon pitcher. Evan Radford drilled his second homerun of the series while Ian Cartwright collected a double for Montevallo.
Game 2 – Montevallo 16, Lee 15
Mason Woolever delivered the walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to give the Falcons the unbelievable 13-run comeback victory. The Flames led 15-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. But when Coach Mark Brew called on five different pitchers to relieve starter Dylan Van Meeteren, the wall caved in on the Flames and the Falcons went flying away with the victory. Van Meeteren pitched 5.2 frames, allowing seven hits and seven earned runs. He walked two and struck out four.
The five relievers gave up six hits, nine earned runs, and walked six hitters. Coates Massey was charged with the defeat. Landon Alton (1-0) the fifth pitcher used by the Falcons got credit for the victory.
Lee had 13 hits and three homeruns in the loss. Luke Collier had a big day at the dish. He blasted a pair of homers and knocked in five runs. Isaiah French joined in with his 10th homerun of the year and collected four RBI. Collier also scored three runs and added a single.
Casen Youngblood belted his eighth four-bagger of the season. He also had a one-base hit and a pair of RBI. Aiden McClary tallied three runs while Landon Franklin stroked two hits and tallied two runs. JJ Williams doubled and crossed the plate twice and Keilin Sanders rounded out the Lee hitting with a single and a run scored.
The Falcons comeback featured 14 hits, six doubles and a triple. Ian Cartwright and Allen Hudson delivered three hits and three RBI apiece, and both scored two runs. Montevallo got a triple from Hollon Brock and took advantage of six free passes.
