In a baseball doubleheader that went from one end of the spectrum to the other, Lee handedly defeated Delta State University in the opening game of the twinbill on Saturday, 12-2 in eight innings, only to see the Statesmen bounce right back and pin an 11-2 defeat on the Flames in the nightcap.
GAME ONE – Lee 12, Delta State 2
Trent Hill led Lee’s 15-hit attack in the opening contest. He had three hits, including a double, in five trips to the plate and scored two runs. Andres Nelo, Ben Holland, MJ Brown, Luke Toms and Josh Tate followed with two hits apiece.
Toms was not about to be outdone.
He also doubled and drove in the team-leading three RBI while scoring once. Chris Adams singled home a pair of runs and Tate drove in two with his singles. Nate Wierzgac and Holland knocked in Lee’s other runs.
Brown led the parade that crossed home plate. He scored three times. Tate also tallied two scores while Wierzgac, Holland, Zack Zyburt, Toms and Adams scored once.
The Flames went right to work in the bottom of the second and third innings, scoring a run in each frame. They came right back to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, tacked on a single run in the sixth and put the contest far out of reach with a four-run seventh. The contest ended in eight innings when the mercy rule was invoked after Lee scored a pair of runs.
Lee got solid pitching in the opener. Jacob Potts started and worked four innings. He gave up three hits, one earned run, walked four and fanned two. Michael James (2-0) followed with 3 1/3 innings and picked up the pitching win. The lefty surrendered four hits, one earned run, walked two and struck out two. Carlos Ditren came on to close the deal with 2/3 of an inning. He had one strikeout.
The Statesmen used four pitchers in trying to slow down the Lee hitting attack. Justin Vincent started and pitched 4 1/3 innings. He was charged with the loss. Cody Waddell, Jake Brumfield and Tanner Cable also hurled for the losers.
GAME TWO – Delta State 11, Lee 2
The Statesmen jumped on the Flames for three runs in the first inning and then turned back a serious rally by Lee in the third. They coasted the rest of the way and rode the strong pitching of Jonathon Moody the rest of the way. Moody (3-2) hurled the complete game. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings.
Hill (5-4) started and was charged with the pitching defeat. In 3 1/3 innings, he allowed six hits, five earned runs, struck out five and walked four. Ditren, Chevis Hoover, Ryan Zimmer, Dakota Fowler and Corbin Lamb also pitched for the Flames. Zimmer, Fowler and Lamb did not surrender a run.
Delta State posted a pair of home runs and finished the contest with 13 hits. Ben Pickard had a three-run homer and finished the day with four RBI. Landon Thibodeaux blasted a round-tripper. He had three hits and a pair of RBI.
The Statesmen got three hits from Brandon Cummins and he scored two runs. Ethan Gill caused the Flames plenty of problems with two hits and three runs batted in.
The top of the Lee order accounted for all of the Flames’ hits. Siosi Poti homered and finished with two hits. He scored the only two runs for the Flames. Nelo followed with two hits, including a double. He had a RBI while Adams, Holland and Hill had Lee’s other hits.
“I was disappointed with the way we came out in the second game,” admitted Lee coach Mark Brew. “I really thought the way we played in the first game would carry over into the second. We did have a chance to get a rally going in the third inning but they made a play that ended the threat.”
Brew noted that Delta State had a club that could really hit the baseball. “We gave them too many freebies (walks and hit batters) in the second game. You can’t do that against a club that hits the ball like they do.”
The coach saw some positive things in the doubleheader split. “I thought Poti swung the bat well and he continues to have a really good year. I also liked the way our young pitchers worked. We just have to keep improving. There are no easy games in this conference. The non-conference the rest of the way is also tough.”
The Flames dropped to 20-14-1 overall and 10-12-1 in Gulf South Conference play. The Statesmen improved to 13-12 and 10-7 in the GSC. Lee returns to non-conference action on Wednesday at Tusculum College and will move back to conference play next weekend when they travel to North Alabama.