Host Auburn Montgomery took advantage of four key Lee errors and 15 Flames strikeouts in a 6-5 series opening win on Friday evening at QV Lowe Field. The loss dropped the Flames to 3-4 in GSC play and 9-7 overall. The Warhawks improved to 2-5 and 5-10. A doubleheader is slated to wrap up the three-game series on Saturday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.
Auburn Montgomery moved on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, but Lee tied the contest in the top of the second when Levi Cloud singled and Ryan Valdez followed with a walk. Gavin Baxter, making his first start of the year, singled to left and collected a RBI, scoring Levi Cloud.
The Flames went up 2-1 in the third. Isaiah French was hit by a pitch, stole second and tallied when Malachi Cloud doubled down the left-field line. Two big runs went up on the board in the top of the fourth inning and put Lee up 4-1. Valdez got the inning started with a single and Baxter continued his big evening with a two-RBI homer over the left-field fence.
The Warhawks bounced right back in the bottom of the inning and scored four runs to take a 5-4 lead. A pair of hits, a couple of errors and a hit batter helped do the damage for the home team. AUM made it a 6-4 game in the bottom of the seventh inning. An error and a walk with one out got the rally started for the Warhawks. A single by Hayden Grier turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the game.
The Flames rallied back in the top of the ninth. French homered to make it a 6-5 game. With two outs, Levi Cloud walked, stole second and Valdez was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch but a strikeout ended the comeback by Lee.
The Flames outhit the Warhawks 10-8 but Lee pitching issued six free passes and AUM allowed four walks. The Flames left 12 runners on base and the Warhawks 11 in the close battle. The home club also did not commit an error.
Cooper Casteel (2-1) started and was charged with the loss. The lefty worked six innings and allowed five hits but only two earned runs. He fanned three and walked one. Nelson Smith came on for two innings. The big right-hander surrendered three hits and no earned runs. He struck out one and gave up one free pass.
The Warhawks used four pitchers. Clay Slagle (1-1) started and got the win. In five innings he allowed six hits and four earned runs. He did strike out eight Flames and allowed three walks. Will Passeau came on for 1.2 innings and allowed a couple of hits and two walks but no runs. Lucas Baggett followed for two frames. He surrendered two hits and an earned run. Brett Pitts picked up his second save of the season. He came on in the top of the ninth and retired the only batter he faced with a strikeout.