Junior Jordan Howard drove in five runs with a grand-slam homer and a double in leading Lee to an 8-5 non-conference win over Lincoln Memorial University at Olympic Field on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.
The victory was the Flames fifth straight and increased their overall record to 7-1 heading into the Gulf South Conference opener against Alabama Huntsville on Saturday afternoon. The doubleheader at Olympic Field is slated for a 2 p.m. opening pitch. A single game will follow on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
The visiting Railsplitters posted a run in the top half of the first inning on a single by Nate Stinson.
He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a fly ball. He scored on an infield single by Logan Augustine. LMU did not score again until putting four runs on the board in the eighth.
In the meantime, the Flames tied the contest in the bottom of the first. Spencer Mossburg doubled and later scored on a RBI infield single by Peyton Meeker. Howard’s slam drove home Cameron Scott, Nate Wierzgac and Miguel Pimentel. The Flames were not finished as Geremy Walton ripped a two-run homer, his third of the year, scoring Mossburg. Pimentel had three hits and scored two runs in the win.
“Offensively, Howard gave us the big spark with the grand slam in the fourth inning,” remarked coach Mark Brew after the win. “I thought Mossburg did an excellent job from the leadoff spot being on base all four times and Scott has been excellent all year in providing quality at bats inside the line-up.”
The eight runs were good enough to stave off a four-run rally by the Railsplitters in the top of the eighth inning. Reliever Joe Parete came on to pick up two big strikeouts to end the LMU threat in the eighth, while Kit Larson worked the final frame, allowing only one walk.
“We didn't play very well early in this game,” said Brew. “We made some uncharacteristic mistakes early and we were fortunate to get out of the first inning with only one run allowed.”
Seven Lee hurlers saw action before the day ended. Rob Gustitus started, allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out three. Corbin Lamb followed with two innings, surrendering one hit, no earned runs and walking two. Michael Ray and Wes Albert pitched an inning apiece, each giving up just one hit.
The Railsplitters picked up four earned runs off John Reese Gilmer in the eighth inning. He allowed three hits, four earned runs and walked a batter. Parete and Larson took care of business in the final inning and two-thirds.
“We did have a pitching plan in place to throw a lot of guys,” pointed out the Lee coach. “But we had some command issues in a few innings that allowed them some momentum. I was really pleased with how Michael Ray threw. He has come on as of late and we need that extra arm in the bullpen."
The Flames have a couple of days to prepare for the Chargers. “We have a big weekend ahead of us with our Gulf South opener,” said Brew as he looked to the weekend series. “UAH has been one of the top programs in baseball and in the conference. It will be a tough task for our team this weekend."