Spencer Mossburg is greeted by coach Mark Brew. He had three hits in win over Trevecca.
photo by Lee University
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lee and the Trevecca Trojans tangled on Wednesday night for the 47th time since the Flames reinstated baseball and coaches David Altopp and Mark Brew left the Trojan program to build Lee baseball.
The Flames have dominated the series with their old rivals and posted their 36th win against only 11 losses with a hard-earned 6-4 victory. The win improves the Flames overall record to 19-9, while the Trojans slipped to 4-15.
Wednesday’s contest on Jackson Field was not decided until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Trevecca loaded the bases against reliever Jumpei Akanuma with only one out. A ground ball to shortstop Jordan Howard resulted in a 6-3 double play to end the comeback attempt.
The Flames jumped on top 2-0 in the first inning when Peyton Meeker’s single scored Geremy Walton and Spencer Mossburg. The margin grew to 3-0 in the second inning when catcher Chase Andrews scored on a wild pitch. Another run in the fourth inning increased the lead to 4-0 when Howard ripped his third homer of the season.
Trevecca cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Flames added a single tally in the seventh inning when Jeffrey Chapuran tripled down the left-field line to score Meeker. The Trojans fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 5-4 game.
The top of the eighth saw the Flames push across another insurance run. Nate Wierzgac, who rested from his catching duties for most of the evening, came on to deliver a key single that pushed Mossburg across the dish.
"This was a solid road win for our team,” said coach Brew. “Trevecca rallied late, but we got big two-out, two-strike hits from Chapuran and Wierzgac to help give us the win.”
All totaled, the Flames had six runs on 12 hits and committed one error. The Trojans put up four runs on 11 hits and also committed one error. Mossburg had three hits and scored two runs to pace Lee’s hitting attack. Meeker had a pair of hits and collected two RBI, while scoring one run. Chapuran and Andrews followed with two hits apiece.
Wes Albert (3-2) started and picked up the pitching win for the Flames. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, struck out five and walked two. Jay Prior followed for 0.2 innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs and issuing two free passes. Joe Parete was called on for 0.2 innings and surrendered a hit but fanned two Trojans. John Reese Gilmer followed for one inning and Akanuma ran into trouble in the ninth but got the double play to end the game.
“Wes gave us a quality start and I thought John Reese gave us three huge outs in the 8th before handing the ball off to Jumpei,” pointed out Brew.
Trevecca got a four-hit outing from Bryson Shelton. He also scored a run and knocked in another run. Griffin Ganick followed with a pair of hits and Ethan Harrison collected two safeties. Chandler Miller recorded a hit that drove in two Trevecca runs.
Thomas Leone was the starting and losing Trevecca pitcher. He hurled two innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Jon Newman followed for the next four innings and gave up a single tally before Cameron Grogan was touched for four hits and two runs in the sixth inning.
"We have a short turn around to get ready for Valdosta State with the series being moved to Friday and Saturday,” added Brew. “It's a great opportunity to take a step forward in the GSC against a quality opponent."
Friday's doubleheader is slated for a first pitch at 2 p.m. Saturday's single nine-inning game has a 1 p.m. scheduled start. Valdosta State is leading the GSC standings at 9-6. The Flames are 8-7 in conference play.