CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Behind four pitchers that allowed only three hits and seven batters that knocked in runs, the Lee University baseball team avenged an earlier loss to Tusculum University with an 11-1 seven-inning run-rule victory over the visiting Pioneers on Tuesday evening at Larry Carpenter Stadium.
The win improved Lee's record to 25-13 and dropped Tusculum to 12-26. The Flames will return to Gulf South Conference play on Friday and Saturday when they host Valdosta State University in a three-game series. Friday's first pitch is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday's action will begin at 1 p.m.
The Pioneers loaded the bases in the opening inning after Lee starter Zachary Lawson hit three straight batters. Coach Mark Brew wasted no time in going to the bullpen. He called on lefty Zach Tierney, who for the second straight outing was outstanding. He retired the first three batters he faced to get the Flames out of the huge jam.
Tierney went onto pitch the next two innings and recorded his first pitching win of the year. He allowed two hits, no runs, walked one and struck out four. Three hurlers followed the lefty to the mound. Coates Massey hurled 1.2 frames and did not surrender a hit but walked a couple.
Alex Brew was next in line for 1.1 innings. He allowed a hit, one earned run, walked a batter and fanned one. Braylon Hall was the fifth Lee pitcher out of the pen. In his inning of work, the right-hander did not allow a hit and struck out a pair to end the game.
Landon Franklin and Keilin Sanders had three hits apiece to pace the Flames' 11-hit attack. Sanders doubled, tripled, and plated a pair of runs. His big day also included two runs scored. Franklin added three solid singles, knocked in a run and crossed the plate twice.
Aiden McClary continued his productive bat work. The left-handed hitter had a double, a single and knocked in three runs. Luke Collier had a pair of hits, an RBI, and tallied a run. Ryan Valdes got into the act with a hit, three scores, and one RBI. He made highlight-catch on a sinking line drive to right.
Luke Treece's first triple of the season paid off. It came in the bottom of the sixth inning and plated Lee's 10th and 11th runs. Nathan Dunfee had a RBI and JJ Williams collected a hit.
Steve Scarphone, Kolby Watson and Jake Smith had the only hits for the Pioneers. Scarphone's hit was a double off Tierney. Adrian Salas posted Tusculum's only RBI when he plated Keygan Miksa with a ground out in the sixth inning. The Pioneers used four pitchers. Christian Ponte was the starter and was charged with the loss. In one inning he allowed three hits and three earned runs.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"It was a complete win for our team. Our offense keeps clicking, defense was great, and pitching did an excellent job limiting them to three hits. We have another big weekend against a really talented Valdosta State team."
