After recording record-breaking hitting and runs-scoring performances on Saturday, the Lee University baseball team rode solid pitching performances from Nelson Smith, Frankie Volkers and Hunter Lane to a 9-3 victory over Christian Brothers University at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The win completed the three-game sweep of the Buccaneers and improved the Flames record to 11-4 in conference play and 22-8 overall. CBU dropped to 5-13, 12-19. Lee will travel to Tusculum University on Tuesday for a nine-inning contest.
The Flames left the bases loaded over the first two innings and trailed 2-0 before moving on top 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning.
Matthew Batts was hit by a pitch. JJ Williams singled and Luke Collier beat out a bunt to load the bases. Batts scored on a RBI ground-out by Riley Black and Josiah Miller ripped a two-run homer to get Lee its first lead.
Christian Brothers evened the score at three in the top of the fourth inning. Lee left the bases loaded in the fifth before finally breaking the contest open with a pair of runs in the sixth. Cam Suto singled and Brandon Daniels walked. With two outs, Collier delivered his third hit of the day, a single that drove home two runs and put the Flames up 5-3.
Lee came back to ice the win in the bottom of the seventh inning when they sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs. They took advantage of six walks by the Christian Brothers pitcher. In fact, the Flames only had one hit in the inning, a double by Dylan Standifer.
Standifer and Daniels finished with two hits each while Suto and Daniels also scored twice. All totaled, Lee collected 11 hits and drew nine walks while leaving 16 runners on base.
Smith was the starting Lee pitcher. He worked 3.2 innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs, struck out four and walked one. Volkers (2-0) came on for 3.1 frames and allowed just one hit. He fanned two and walked one. Lane completed the afternoon. His day consisted of two innings of no-hit ball, a walk and a strikeout.
The Bucs had a big day at the plate from Will Gossett who had two doubles and a single. He also drove in a run. Cory Steinhauer homered in the third inning. Mitsuki Kohno stroked a two-base hit for CBU.
Joseph Gibson (0-3) started and pitched well for the Bucs. Over 5.2 innings he allowed seven hits and five earned runs. CBU was guilty of two costly errors. Alex Meadows came on and suffered from control problems, walking five batters and allowing four earned runs. Charlie Seahorn finished the day. Over 1.2 innings he allowed two hits, no earned runs, walked one and fanned three.