JACKSON, Tenn. – Union University took advantage of five costly errors by the Lee University baseball team and came from behind to defeat the Flames 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Fesmire Field. The win gave the Bulldogs the three-game series 2-1 and dropped Coach Mark Brew's club to 7-5 in GSC play and 15-6 overall. Union improved to 4-8, 10-11.
Lee jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Ryan Valdes doubled and scored on a home run by Landon Franklin. Isaiah French drew a free pass and later scored on an RBI single by Nate Caraballo. The lead grew to 5-0 when the Flames posted single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Aiden McClary had a one-base hit to begin the fourth. He stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed home plate when Nate Dunfee walked with the bases loaded. In the fifth, Caraballo started the rally with a single, advanced to second on a balk and made it 5-0 when McClary collected his second hit and the RBI.
The Bulldogs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to costly errors that made both tallies unearned. The margin was cut to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Jordan Allen singled, stole second and raced home on a pinch-hit single by Cody Tjomsland.
The Flames pushed the lead to 6-3 in the top of the eighth. McClary banged out his third hit of the day. He stole his second bag of the afternoon and scored an unearned run. Dunfee got credit for the RBI with a fly out to left field.
Union came to life in the bottom of the inning, putting three runs on the board and stunning the Flames by tying the contest at six. The host club loaded the bases and scored the first run on an infield ground out. Another free pass followed and then a run scored on an error. The next score came on a wild pitch and all of a sudden the game was deadlocked.
Lee hitters went down in order in the top of the ninth. The Bulldogs got a lead-off single from Allen to begin the bottom of the inning. A sac bunt pushed Matthew Autry, who was running for Allen, to second. Caden Walker was intentionally walked, and both Autry and Walker advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. A single by Joseph Hulstedler pushed Autry across home plate with the walk-off winning run.
Lee collected nine hits in the loss. Caraballo and McClary had three hits each. Caraballo drove home one run with a double and scored another while McClary scored twice and collected an RBI. Franklin's homer put two runs on the board while Casen Youngblood singled, and Valdes doubled for Lee's other hits. The Flames left seven runners on base. Union collected eight hits. Allen led the way with three hits, including a double. Hulstedler and Nick Stamper had two knocks apiece.
Gage Shaver pitched five solid innings for the Flames. He allowed two hits and no earned runs, fanning eight and walking two. Alex Brew followed for 1.2 frames. The lefty allowed a pair of hits and an earned run. Mason Bratcher (1-1) was charged with the loss. In 1.2 innings he surrendered four hits and two earned runs.
Bulldog starter Thauma Sato worked the first 3.2 frames. He allowed six hits and four earned runs. Cole Lannom gave his team a lift by hurling five innings. The right-hander gave up three hits and one earned run. Chris Troyer (2-1) came in and retired the final two outs and got credit for the win.
The Flames will regroup and face a non-conference challenge on Tuesday. They will test Carson-Newman University for the second time this season. The contest at Larry Carpenter Stadium is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
