Lee Baseball Splits With Visiting Hillsdale College

  • Saturday, February 4, 2023
On a clear but cold Saturday afternoon and early evening for baseball at Larry Carpenter Stadium, Lee opened the 2023 season by splitting a doubleheader with visiting Hillsdale College. The Flames easily won the opener 16-5 but the Chargers bounced back to claim the nightcap in nine innings, 3-1. 

“We played solid defense all day and that was good to see as it’s an improvement from where we had been performing,” noted Lee head coach Mark Brew. “Overall 16 walks is not going to lend itself to a winning-pitching staff.
We’ve got to throw more competitive pitches. Greyson Linderman will get the ball tomorrow and I’m looking forward to a solid start from him.” 

The two teams will tangle again on Sunday afternoon. The single game is scheduled for an opening pitch of 1 p.m. The Flames are scheduled to remain home to face Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday at 3 p.m. 

Game 1 

 Big Sam Fulton returned to his top form of one year ago by tossing five innings of no-hit ball in the 16-5 victory. He fanned nine and walked two batters. Brycen Jewell came on for two innings of work and did not allow a hit or run. He struck out two and walked two. Seth Coffett pitched the ninth and gave up a hit and an earned run. He walked three and struck out one. Cole Matthaidess also worked the inning. 

“Fulton gave us a great start and set the tone for the day and Noah Hattier set the tone for our offense with a perfect start. Lots of guys had great swings and productive at bats,” said Coach Brew. 

Noah Hattier’s first appearance as the Lee shortstop was a big hit. He was a perfect 5-for-5, including a double, at the plate with an RBI. He also scored five times. Dylan Standifer produced the unusual, driving in three runs without a hit. He also scored once. Cam Suto followed with a double, two singles and two RBI. Brandon Daniel added two hits while Luke Hughes was 2-for-2 with a double and single and an RBI. Nate Bynum picked up two hits and scored a run while Isaac Quinones blasted a three-run homer. All totaled, Lee finished with 18 hits. 

Cody Kanderz, Jaekob Sallee, Lewis Beals and Trey Haeger had the Charger hits. Beals drove in all three of the runs for the losers while Kanderz, Sallee and Will Shannon scored the runs. Will Gifford was the starting and losing pitcher. He pitched 2.3 innings and surrendered eight hits and eight earned runs. Daly Skees, Brandon Scott and Drew Erdel also pitched in the loss. 

Game 2   

The second game was a different story. With the temperatures dropping, the Lee bats suddenly went cold and they were able to collect only three hits against the solid pitching off Hillsdale hurlers Tommy MacLean and Zane Barnhart. MacLean worked the first 4.1 innings and gave up three hits and the only run. He fanned four and walked one. Barnhartcame on for the final 4.2 innings and collected the pitching win. He did not allow a hit and struck out seven Flames while walking just one. 

The Flames scored their only run in the bottom of the first inning. Hattier doubled and advanced to third on a ground out by Riley Black. He scored on an infield single by Josiah Miller. Suto had Lee’s only other hit. Hillsdale tied the game in the top of the fifth inning when Kanderz homered over the left-field wall. The contest would remain deadlocked until the top of the ninth.  

In the ninth, Jax Howard took over the mound duties for the Flames. He struck out the first batter he faced but then walked two batters before getting another strikeout. Danny Passin picked up a free pass to load the bases. The go-ahead run came home on a walk and the next scored on a wild pitch to make the tally 3-1. Barnhart retired three straight hitters in the bottom of the ninth inning in helping give the Chargers the split.  

Cameron Land started and worked two solid innings for the Flames. He allowed only one hit, walked two and fanned two. Keegan Gagliargo, in his first appearance as a Lee pitcher, was solid. In four innings, he surrendered three hits, one earned run, struck out six and walked one. Hunter Lane, a top Lee reliever last year came on for two innings and was near perfect fanning three and walking one. Howard was charged with the loss. 

“It was a tight game all the way and our offense couldn’t create many more opportunities after the first inning. Gagliardopitched well as did Lane,” said Brew in closing.

The Flames and Chargers will play in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 PM.
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