The Lee University baseball team rode the three-homerun performance by Cam Suto and five hits by JJ Williams to a 24-7 victory over Auburn University Montgomery in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA DII South Regional Baseball Championship at the UT Baseball Field on Thursday afternoon. In the opening game of the four-team tourney, host University of Tampa handily defeated Savannah State 16-7 and will face the Flames on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.
All totaled, Lee blasted seven homeruns and banged out 22 hits in the romp. Suto collected five RBI and scored four runs. Williams had a homerun, double and three singles. He also knocked in three runs and scored four times.
Riley Black followed close behind. He had three hits in four trips to the dish, including two homers and a two-base hit. He finished with five RBI and crossed home plate four times. Brantley Cutler was not to be outdone. He stroked a two-run four-bagger in the first inning. The Lee leftfielder also made a key play in the fourth inning to end a threat with the bases loaded by the Warhawks. He finished with three hits on the afternoon.
Dylan Standifer contributed a double and a single. He posted two RBI and tallied three runs. With his two RBI, Standifertied Kevin Young (2000-03) for most RBI in Lee history with 194. Brandon Daniels scored twice with a hit and a pair of walks. Jojo Miller pitched in with a two-RBI one-base hit that plated two runs. Gavin Baxter and Luke Hughes came off the bench and blasted doubles. Hughes plated two runs and Baxter got an RBI and scored a run. Ashton Simmons took advantage of his opportunity with a hit and two runs scored. He also helped the Flames turn a double play.
Keegan Gagliardo was called on to pitch the first 6.2 innings in the win. He improved his record to 9-2 on the year while allowing 11 hits, six earned runs, striking out five and walking four. Colt McKibben worked the final 2.1 innings. He gave up two hits and one earned run.
Tyrese Rooks had three hits in four trips to the plate for AUM. He collected two RBI and scored once. Brendan York also contributed three hits. He had a double and two singles and knocked in four of his team’s seven runs. Cooper Doughman had three hits and scored a run in the loss. Ashton Thomas gave the Flames problems by walking four times and pushing one Warhawk across the plate.
Auburn Montgomery used five pitchers in the loss. Clay Slagle was the starting and losing hurler. His record dropped to 7-3 on the year. The Warhawks will be back in action and will face Savannah State in the loser’s bracket on Friday at 1 p.m.