The long-awaited rematch with Union University didn't exactly go the way coach David Altopp and the Lee University Flames had hoped. The winner-take-all championship game of the TranSouth Conference was dominated by the Bulldogs most all the way.
Union will take a 42-18 mark and the championship banner into Region XI play beginning on Wednesday. The Flames, (40-17) after the 11-3 defeat, will have to settle for second place as they journey to Lebanon, Tenn. and the Region XI tourney.
TranSouth Conference Player of the Year, Jeff Wyatt, stole the show in the final game. He collected five hits in six trips to the plate, knocked in four runs and scored once himself. Among his five hits was a triple that scored two key runs in the very first inning and set the tone for the entire game.
Rolando Agusto added injury to insult by blasting a homer, while Roger Cook had a double and posted two RBI.
Lee tried to battle back and tied the game at 2-2, but most of the highlights of this game belonged to the visiting Bulldogs.
Again, the Flames had a good day at the plate. They banged out 11 hits against three Union pitchers, including the winner, Joseph Talley. Garth Thomas, Ron Fenwick, Kris Thomas and Jeremiah Pierce had two hits each.
Kris Thomas blasted his fifth homer of the season. Kevin Young added a double and an RBI, while Steve Albert, and Jared Hill had Lee's other hits.
Mitch Crafton was charged with the pitching defeat. Freshman Adam Blackwell pitched well in relief and so did Steve Turpin.
The Flames will now wait and see who they draw in the region. That news should be made available sometime Sunday.