A two-out bloop single by Bryan Mathews in the top of the first inning pushed across the game’s only run in Sunday's Gulf South Conference (GSC) series finale between Lee University (17-9-1, 8-8-1 GSC) and Shorter University (10-11, 7-8 GSC) to give the visiting Hawks a 1-0 win. The two teams split Saturday’s doubleheader with Lee coming back to win the opener 10-9 and Shorter winning game two by a 3-1 margin.
“Give Shorter credit, they outplayed us almost the entire series,” said Lee head coach Mark Brew. “We have to gain more consistency moving forward. We are adding a good Columbus State team to the schedule on Wednesday and it will be another tough test before traveling to West Florida this weekend.”
Wednesday’s game against Columbus State is scheduled for 6 p.m. at The Perfect Game Complex in Emerson, Ga.
“Jacob Potts gave us exactly what we needed on the mound,” said Brew. “He did a phenomenal job keeping us in a position to win the game. Problem was we couldn't string together any hits. (Siosi) Poti and (Ben) Holland had really good days, but other than that we were hitting with no one on base most the day. I thought we had turned a corner offensively, but what I saw today was similar to where we were offensively two weeks ago.”
Potts (1-3) gave up seven hits and one run in six innings of work. He walked two batters and struck out four Hawks. Ryan Zimmer walked three and allowed no hits or runs in one inning. Chevis Hoover allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two in two innings pitched.
Poti was 3-for-4 with three singles and Holland added two more safeties. Josh Tate singled and Trenton Hill delivered the only extra-base hit of the game with a double high off the right-center field wall.
Russell Crosby earned the win after scattering five hits and one walk over seven innings. Crosby (2-3) also struck out one Lee batter. Brandon Reynolds earned his second save of the season with two innings of relief.
The Hawks recorded eight singles with Ian Redetzky accounting for three of those. The other five hits came from George Ragsdale, Zach Santos, Dustin Lawson, Brian Cabrera and Mathews.