Behind a pair of homeruns and seven runs batted in from Brandon Daniels, the Lee University baseball team powered its way past Valdosta State University on Friday afternoon at Larry Carpenter Stadium. Jack Nedrow also recorded his fourth pitching win as the Flames improved to 3-1 in the GSC standings and 9-4 overall with the 18-4 seven-innings victory.
The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m. Coach Mark Brew announced that left-handerKeegan Gagliardo will be the starting pitcher for the first game and Nelson Smith is slated for the nightcap.
All totaled, Lee had 18 hits, including four homeruns and four other extra-base hits.
Brantley Cutler and JJ Williams joined Daniels in the homerun department while Dylan Standifer tripled and Cam Suto, Matthew Batts and Luke Collier doubled. Daniels finished with four hits while Standifer had three and Suto, Batts, Cutler and Ashton Simmons had two each.
Daniels’ outstanding afternoon also included four runs scored. Standifer and Simmons crossed the plate three times apiece. Collier and Cutler joined in the action by scoring twice. In the field, the Flames played errorless baseball.
Nedrow worked 5.2 innings and threw 108 pitches. He allowed 10 hits, four earned runs, struck out nine, walked one and hit two batters. Cole Matthaidess came on for 1.2 innings. He did not allow a run or hit while walking one.
The Blazers were led by Ryan Romano who enjoyed a perfect 4-for-4 game, including two doubles and two singles. He also drove in two of his team’s four runs. Leeandro Alfonzo added two hits and scored a run. David Crawford produced a double and a one-base hit. He drove in two runs and scored once. Jacob Harper had a hit and scored the other two runs for the Blazers.
Zac Dodson was the starting and losing Valdosta State pitcher. In 4.2 innings, he allowed 16 hits and 13 earned runs. Trey Jackson and Ryan Brown came on in relief for the Blazers. The loss dropped the visitors to 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the GSC.