Sports weekend wrap-up
Photo by Peri McIntosh
Another busy weekend of sports for Lee University as the Flames fast-pitch softball and baseball teams held their season openers at home. The weekend began with Flames baseball at home against the Lions of Emmanuel College on Friday, Jan. 30. Flames men's basketball finished out the weekend at home against Valdosta State University on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Junior Flames pitcher Trenton Hill took the mound for the opening game for the Flames 2015 season on Friday night. Hill pitched six innings, and allowed only three hits and one earned run. Hill grabs his first win of the season while leading the Flames to a 10-1 victory over the Lions of Emmanuel College. Senior outfielder Siosi Poti contributed on the offensive side as he went 4-4 with 2 RBI and a homerun on the day.
In game two of three of the weekend for Flames baseball against the Lions pitching proved to be key. Senior pitcher for the Flames, Dustin Lawson, started the game and pitched six innings with zero earned runs. Lawson left with the score tied at 0-0 and received a no decision. Freshman Flames pitcher, Michael James, pitched the top of the seventh inning for the Flames, and allowed no runs keeping the game 0-0 going into the bottom of the final inning. Flames third baseman, sophomore Cameron Scott, drove in the only run of the day in walk off fashion with a double that knocked in junior first basement Ben Holland to win the game 1-0.
After winning the first two games against the Lions, the Flames baseball team entered game three playing for a perfect three game sweep. Pitching proved to be the key of the game once again as the Flames took game three 2-0. Junior Flames pitcher Chevis Hoover started the game, and pitched six innings allowing 0 runs and piled up 10 strikeouts. Kyle Briner, junior Flames pitcher, recorded the save pitching the seventh inning and allowing 0 runs. The Flames took the lead in the fourth inning off of a solo homerun by junior middle-infielder Andres Nello. In the fifth inning, junior middle-infielder Luke Toms gave the Flames an insurance run by driving in Scott.
Flames 2015 baseball season remains undefeated after a three game weekend. The baseball team stays at home for the next game against Lemoyne-Owen College on Saturday, Feb. 7.
Flames fast-pitch softball opened their 2015 season with a bang, and grabbed a 33-0 victory over the Lions of Hiwassee College in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 31. Flames freshman pitcher Leigh Beatenbough pitched three scoreless innings on her way to her first career collegiate win. Offense came from everywhere for the Flames as junior short-stop Amanda Lynn drove in four RBI, and both junior out-fielder Lexie Dean and senior outfielder Dominique Hannah contributed with three RBI each.
Lady Flame's fast-pitch softball finished the sweep in the second game against the Lions with a 12-0 victory. The Lady Flames were led by junior pitcher Angie Hughes, who pitched five perfect innings that included nine strikeouts in the 15 batters that she faced. Hannah kept her hot weekend going by knocking in four RBI in game two.
With a 2-0 record to start the season, the Lady Flames fast-pitch softball travel to St. Augustine, Florida for their first game of the Flagler Tournament against Barton College on Saturday, Feb. 7.
The Lady Flame's basketball team endured a heartbreaking loss against the Lady Blazers of Valdosta state on Saturday, Jan. 31. Going into halftime the Lady Flames had a 31-27 lead, but the team fell just short in the end and lost 64-63. The loss came despite the Lady Flames having two player with 20 or more points, freshman forward Emileigh Swafford with 25 and freshman guard Erin Walsh with 20.
With the loss, the Lady Flame's basketball team season record moves to 12-6, and will travel for the next game against The University of Alabama in Huntsville on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Flames men's basketball finished the weekend on a positive note with a 78-75 victory over the Blazers of Valdosta State on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Flames overcame a 38-32 deficit at halftime. Junior Flame Elgrin Wilson led the team in points on his way to a career high of 19 points in a game. After being scoreless for the first half, senior Flame, guard Cory Billingsly, scored 14 second-half points and went 6-6 at the free throw line contributing to the Flames comeback.
The victory improves Flames basketball season record to 11-9 as they travel for the next game against The University of Alabama in Huntsville on Thursday, Feb. 5.
