OXFORD, Ala. – In one of the most thrilling comebacks ever posted by a Lee baseball team, the Flames scored nine runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome a 12-4 lead by Mississippi College and post a 13-12 victory in Gulf South Conference tournament play on Sunday evening at Choccolocco Park. The win advances Lee (36-15) to the winner's bracket final, and they will face West Florida on Monday afternoon at 3:30 ET.
The blast that had to be heard all around the City of Oxford was caused by a grand-slam homer by Luke Collier in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Flames the amazing 13-12 lead. It all began when Aiden McClary drew a walk, but he was retired when Collier reached on a fielder's choice. Isaiah French gave Lee runners at first and second when the Choctaws were guilty of an error and Cody Turner walked to load the bases.
Landon Franklin came up with the first big hit of the inning when his one-base knock drove home two runs. Nate Caraballo followed with a double that plated another score. JJ Williams kept things going with a single as he collected an RBI. Braden Gabel drew a free pass, and the sacks were jammed again. Up stepped Keilin Sanders who promptly had a one-base knock that began to get the Lee crowd excited as another run crossed the dish.
The Choctaws posted a strikeout, and there were two outs when Collier strolled to the plate for his second time in the inning. The senior has been a key figure in the Lee hitting attack all year and promptly ripped a grand-slam homer over the right-centerfield wall that sent the Lee crowd into an uproar and put Lee on top 13-12.
Collier finished with a homer, a double, a single, four RBI and three runs scored. Caraballo continued his solid bat work with a double and two singles. He knocked in one run and scored once. Williams continued his hitting attack over the past two games with three hits, one RBI and a run scored.
Sanders came off the bench and had a pair of hits, two RBI and tallied two runs. Franklin countered with two hits, two runs knocked in and one run scored. Not to be denied French connected for his team-leading 13th home run of the year. All totaled, Lee had 17 hits.
Gage Shaver worked the first 4.2 innings for the Flames. He gave up nine hits, five earned runs, and struck out seven. Five other hurlers followed Shaver to the mound before Landon Nease came on to retire one batter in the top of the eighth inning and was credited with the pitching win. Turner worked the ninth inning for the Flames and got his sixth save of the year. He allowed one hit, no runs and struck out two.
The Choctaws got home runs from Will Langston and Jake LaRocca. Langston scored four runs while Alex Johnson had four hits, three RBI and scored two times. JT Thigpen also knocked in three runs for the losers. The Choctaws used four pitchers. Dylan Cope ran into major problems. In the 1.1 innings of action, he allowed five hits, eight runs, four earned runs, walked four and struck out one. Taylor Ballard hurled 2/3 of an inning and was charged with the loss.
Coach Mark Brew's thoughts:
"Wow what a finish. It was a crazy night and our guys showed some amazing grit to fight back and win this game. Collier has had a huge year for us, but what a swing in that moment. Turner didn't have the best day at the plate, but he posted three big outs through the heart of the Mississippi College line-up to finish it. We had lots of big swings throughout that 8th inning, and we overcame a lot tonight. It's a short turnaround to play a really good West Florida team, but our guys will be ready."
