The Lee bats exploded for 15 hits including a pair of home runs in a 13-0 victory over Ohio Christian in the opening day of NCCAA Mid-East Region action at Olympic Field on Tuesday evening.
The Flames will face Bluefield College in a vastly important second round matchup on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Rams and Flames are the only two undefeated teams remaining in the six-team tournament. Bluefield advanced with a 12-0 win over Morthland College (Ill.)
The 15-hit attack was led by Zack Zyburt who drilled a key three-run homer in the third inning.
He also added a single and scored three runs. Chris Adams contributed a double, two singles, posted a RBI and tallied twice. Andres Nelo followed with three one-base hits and knocked in a pair of runs. Not to be out done, MJ Brown stroked a pair of singles, a two-base hit and crossed home plate twice. Luke Toms ripped a solo homer for the winners.
The Flames gave plenty run support to pitcher Logan Campbell. The right-hander hurled six innings, allowing just three hits, striking out four and walking only one Trailblazer batter. Ryan Zimmer pitched a perfect final inning.
"Zyburt's homer in the third inning seemed to really loosen some things up for us at the plate," commented coach Mark Brew after the Flames improved to 32-18-1 on the year. "It was good to see our team have some big innings. I thought (Siosi) Poti scoring from second base on an infield out was really something but that's the way he plays the game all the time. Campbell threw 80 pitches for us tonight and that's probably more than he has thrown all season. He's coming back from Tommy Johns surgery and is just now rounding into top form.
The Lee bats came alive in the second inning and never let up in the contest that was limited to seven innings due to the mercy rule. Brown got the rally started with a single and was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Weirzgac. Zyburt walked and Poti reached on an error. Adams came up with Lee's first big hit of the night when he doubled home two runs.
Four more runs were posted in the third inning as the Flames sent nine men to the plate. Toms' solo blast started the rally. Brown and Weirzgac singled, followed by Zyburt's three-run bomb. Lee put the contest far out of reach in the fifth inning as 10 batters walked to the plate and five scored. A remarkable play occurred in the inning when Zyburt and Poti scored on a ground-out to second base by Nelo. Shae Durham also doubled home a run in the inning.
Jordan Dicks, Brian Daria and Stephen Wood had the only hits for Ohio Christian, all singles. Richie French was the starting and losing pitcher for the Trailblazers, who dropped to 15-19 on the year.
In earlier action on Tuesday, Morthland upset third-seeded Hiwassee 14-4 and Ohio Christian earned the right to face the Flames with a 10-9 win over Johnson University. On Wednesday, play beings when Johnson University and Morthland play in the first elimination game at 11 a.m. Hiwassee and Ohio Christian tangle for the right to stay alive in the 1:30 p.m. game.