The Lee baseball team claimed its 12th and 13th straight victories on Saturday afternoon with 14-8 and 6-5 wins over Miles College inside the historic Rockwood Field. The 6th-ranked Flames are now 24-2 on the year.
"Give Miles a ton of credit. They compete and made us earn everything this weekend. Our team continues to find ways to win close games and that's a mark of a quality team," explained Coach Mark Brew.
Game 1 – Lee 14, Miles 8
The top of the lineup carried the Flames in the opener.
Thomas Zazzaro had a hit and scored two runs. Luke Hughes doubled and drove home two runs while also scoring twice. Alan Smith also stroked a two-base hit, scored once and drove home a run. Ryan Beamish had his 11th home run and also ripped a double in finishing with two hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Justen Freeman joined the action with a pair of hits and a run scored. Colton Yeager had a hit and a run scored while Landon Silver blasted a pair of doubles and pushed two runs across the dish.
Chandler Ring started for the Flames and pitched only 1.2 innings. He allowed four earned runs while striking out five and walking three. Alan Rickman gave the Flames a lift and picked up his first win of the year. He worked 4.1 innings and allowed one hit and no earned runs. Alex Butler followed for 2.0 innings. Grayson Linderman entered for 0.1 innings before Andrew Franklin came on for the final 0.2 innings.
The Golden Bears got a big performance from Destin Davidson who had a double, home run and also driving in three runs. Jeffrey Wright was the only other Miles player with two hits.
"The offense really stepped up and gave us a nice lift after struggling yesterday. We got lots of production throughout the lineup. Rickman gave us a nice lift settling us down after having to go to the pen early," noted Coach Brew.
Game 2 – Lee 6, Miles 5
The second game was a different story and was a battle from start to finish. The Flames quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Zazzaro walked and later scored. Beamish singled and also crossed the dish. Silver started his big day at the plate with a single.
Lee scored its final runs of the contest in the top of the fifth inning. Freeman opened the inning with a single. Beamish followed with a double and Yeager drove home two runs with a one-base knock. Silver displayed his speed and drove home Yeager with an inside the park homer, his 10th of the year. The Flames were on top 6-2 but had to hold off the determined Golden Bears who put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth to trim the lead to 6-5. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Tyler Fairchild hurled the first four innings for the Flames and allowed five hits and five earned runs. Alan Carter came on to pitch his best ball of the year and improved his record to 4-0. In four innings, he did not allow a run, fanned 10 and walked only two. Michael Hendricks toed the rubber in the ninth inning and struck out all three batters he faced to earn his third save of the season.
"Carter had a tremendous performance and Hendricks continued the lockdown bullpen effort in the 9th," praised Brew.
The Flames will move back into conference action next Friday and Saturday when they host long-time rival Shorter University. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. start.