Flames Baseball 7-6 Over Mississippi College, Earns Three Game Sweep

The Lee University baseball team overcame two three-run innings by Mississippi College to claim the Gulf South Conference (GSC) series sweep with a 7-6 win Monday afternoon at Olympic Field.

“We weren't great today, but we were good enough to get the sweep,” said Lee head coach Mark Brew. “Mississippi College battled us all day, but I was proud our team found a way to get it done in the end.”

The Flames (16-7-1, 7-6-1 GSC) were led by Trenton Hill’s 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Hill drove in two runs with his first home run of the season. Nathan Wierzgac and Luke Toms recorded two hits, including one double, and one RBI each. Andres Nelo and Josh Tate also ripped doubles in the win.

The Choctaws (7-14, 2-12 GSC) tallied 11 hits. Hunter Bolin, Hunter Hall and Kyle Smith had two hits each. Bolin and Caleb Upton legged out doubles.

Mississippi College jumped out on the Flames with three runs in the top of the first inning. Toler Robinson drove in one run and Hunter Hall’s Texas leaguer plated two runs.
Lee would close the gap then take the lead with two runs in the second and third innings. Zack Zyburt and Nelo drove each drove in a run in the second inning. Hill blasted a two-run home run just to the right of the batter’s eyed to take a 4-3 lead in the third inning.

The Flames added a single run in the fourth inning when Tate scored on a wild pitch.
Mississippi College delivered three-straight two-out singles in the seventh inning to pull within one with two runners still on. Hunter Bolin doubled down the left field line to push the visitors back into the lead (6-5).

Toms evened the score with a single up the middle in the seventh inning and Wierzgac doubled to plate Tate for the eventual winning run in the eighth inning.

“Nate Wierzgac had a huge swing on the game-winning double in the eighth, but he swung the bat well all series. It was good to see Trent Hill have some good swings as well,” added Brew.
Rob Gustitus started for Lee and gave up three runs, three hits, walked two and struck out one batter in one inning of work. Michael James pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief, where he scattered four hits and five walks.

“Michael James gave us a huge lift on the mound early settling us down after we got behind,” added Brew. “That allowed our hitters an opportunity to get the team back in the game. Grayson Bailey and Chevis Hoover also did a great job on the mound late in the game.”

Bailey retired all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. Hoover faced four batters in the ninth, hitting one and fanning one to record his first save.

“We are creating some positive momentum right now and hopefully we can continue it into the weekend against a good Shorter team,” concluded Brew.

Tuesday night’s scheduled game against Bryan College has been rescheduled for April 21 at 6 p.m. due to Bryan needing to make up a required conference game. As a result, the Flames will next see action against GSC foe Shorter University. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by a single nine-inning game on Sunday.