JJ Williams and Luke Collier set the pace for the Lee University offense and four Flame pitchers gave up only two hits to Carson-Newman University batters in handing the visiting Eagles their first defeat of the season at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Williams and Collier combined for eight hits, four runs and four RBI as the Flames run-ruled the Eagles 10-0 in seven innings. Williams finished with two singles, a double and triple in five trips to the plate. He scored three runs and collected two RBI.
Collier blasted three one-base hits and a triple. He knocked in a pair of runs and scored once.
Isaiah French joined in with two hits, two runs batted in and tallied a run. Ashton Simmons added two hits and tallied two runs. Tucker Platt pitched in with a hit, RBI and a run scored. All totaled, Lee pounded out 14 hits and seven different players scored runs.
The loss dropped Carson-Newman to 10-1 overall while Lee improved to 6-5. The Flames will return to conference action on Friday at 3 p.m. when they host the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the opener of a three-game series. A doubleheader is slated for Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Four Lee hurlers were in complete control the entire seven innings. Braxton Smith tripled for the Eagles in the fifth inning and pinch-hitter Evan Mutter singled in the seventh for Carson-Newman’s only hits. Five went down on strikes. Only one walked and another was hit by a pitch. The Lee defense was guilty of two errors.
Cooper Casteel started and worked a perfect inning. Seth Parker followed and did not give up a hit while walking one and recording a strikeout. Evan Bloomer was impressive for two innings. The right-hander gave up a hit and lefty Matthew Delph closed the door for the final two innings and gave up one hit while recording a strikeout. Parker was awarded the pitching win. The Eagles used six pitchers and starter Christian Henderson was charged with the loss.
Coach Mark Brew’s thoughts:
“This was our most complete offensive and pitching game thus far this year. I really like the throwing tone the pitchers and offense set early. Carson Newman really has a good team and we needed this type of effort from the team. It’s time to focus on UAH who will bring a quality GSC team to town Friday and Saturday. Hopefully, we can use this momentum to get a quick start into the weekend.”