Lee University battled back from a 7-1 deficit in game one of a doubleheader to win 8-7 and then claimed a thrilling 3-2 extra-innings affair in the nightcap to claim a 2-1 Gulf South Conference series victory over the University of West Florida at Larry Carpenter Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Flames improved to 14-10 in conference play and 22-15 overall while the Argonauts slipped to 15-9, 21-15.
Coach Mark Brew will regroup his battle-tested club and send it back into action in a single nine-inning non-conference contest against Tusculum College on Tuesday evening at Larry Carpenter Stadium.
The action is slated for a 6 p.m. Things do not get any easier for the Flames as they hit the road for a three-game GSC series at Valdosta State University on Friday and Saturday.
Game 1 – Lee 8, UWF 7
The Flames staged their biggest comeback of the year with the victory in Saturday’s opening game. The Argonauts led 6-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Lee exploded for four runs in the inning and cut the lead to 6-5. West Florida added a single run in the top of the eighth to make it a 7-5 contest going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Levi Cloud and Ryan Valdes opened the ninth-inning rally with walks. Ashton Simmons put down a bunt and reached on a throwing error by the pitcher that scored Cloud. Valdes advanced all the way to third and Simmons to second. With two outs, Brock Sisson became the hero of the afternoon when his one-base hit scored Valdes and Simmons with the winning runs. Sisson had come on as a relief catcher in the eighth inning and collected a pair of hits.
The Flames collected 14 hits in the win. JJ Williams had two hits and two RBI. Luke Collier had a pair of hits and scored once. Isaiah French collected two singles. Josiah Miller doubled, singled and crossed home plate and Levi Cloud finished with two one-base knocks, scored a pair of runs and posted a RBI.
Dylan Van Meeteren was the Lee starting pitcher but was lifted after retiring only one batter. Ty Cobb came on for 2.2 innings. He allowed five hits and four earned runs. Will Baker gave the Flames four strong innings of three-hit ball. He allowed no earned runs. Hunter Lane (1-0) came on for the final 1.2 frames and picked up the victory.
West Florida collected 10 hits. Dom Presto was the leader with three hits, two runs scored and a RBI. Jadon Fryman knocked in two runs and Willis Maskin, Dean Hotz also had RBI.
The Argonauts used four hurlers. Jacob Heat pitched the first five innings and allowed nine hits and only one earned run. He struck out eight and walked one. Grant Adams came on for 1.2 innings and ran into trouble, allowing three hits, walking three and allowing four earned runs. Chase Stanhope was called on for 1.1 innings. He gave up a hit and no earned runs. Brantley Willis (1-1) recorded two outs and allowed Lee’s winning run. He was charged with the loss.
Game 2 – Lee 3, UWF 2
The nightcap will certainly go down as the most thrilling win of the year by the Lee baseball team. They had to come from behind once again to claim the victory against the Argonauts. The contest was scheduled for seven innings but went into the bottom of the ninth before the Flames could claim the victory.
Again, Lee out-hit the visitors 8-4 but had problems pushing runners across the plate. The Flames went on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Williams singled, stole second and scored when the red-hot Sisson stroked his third straight hit and collected a RBI.
West Florida took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Fryman singled, Willis was hit by a pitch and Brett Rowell walked to load the bases. Maskin stroked a one-base knock that plated two runs.
The lead held until Lee was able to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Malachi Cloud did the damage. He started the frame with a one-base hit, went to second on a wild pitch and then stole third. He scored the tying run on a fielder’s choice by Levi Cloud.
Both teams displayed excellent pitching until the Flames finally got Malachi Cloud on base again when he singled in the bottom of the ninth inning. He promptly stole second and third. The speedster thrilled the Lee fans and his teammates when he raced home to score the winning run on a wild pitch.
Credit goes to the Lee pitching in this contest, especially those in the relief roles. Colt McKibben started but had to leave after 2.2 innings when he developed some arm problems. He had given up one hit, two earned runs and walked three.
The bullpen was outstanding. Seth Parker was called on for 1.1 frames. He gave up two hits and no runs. Zachary Lawson was solid for two innings. He surrendered just one hit and fanned a pair. Tim Gooden, who Coach Brew said he brought in to pitch no more than two innings, hurled the final three frames. He did not allow a hit, struck out five and walked one in picking up his first victory of the year.
Williams and Malachi Cloud were the only Flames with two hits in the victory. Malachi scored twice and JJ once for Lee’s only runs. Collier, French, Sisson and Simmons had the Flames other one-base knocks while Sisson and Levi Cloud posted the RBI.
Maskin, Fryman, Alex Urias and Ethan Babcock had the only hits for the Argonauts. Kade Manderscheid was the workhorse for West Florida. He labored for eight innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. For the second straight game, Willis came on in relief and was charged with the defeat.