Flames, Wolves Split Pair but Lee Takes Series

CARROLLTON, Ga – Pitching was the name of the game for the Lee University baseball team on Sunday afternoon against the University of West Georgia at Cole Field. Keegan Gagliardo was outstanding in hurling eight innings of seven-hit ball in the Flames 6-1 win in the opener and Nelson Smith turned in his best effort of the year as Lee fell 2-1 in the nightcap.

The Flames took the series 2-1 for the third straight weekend and improved to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in GSC play. Lee will return to non-conference play on Wednesday (3 p.m.) for a single game against Lincoln Memorial University. They will have a bye weekend in conference play and will host Cedarville University (Ohio) in a three-game series. Friday’s single game is slated for 4 p.m. and Saturday’s doubleheader (1 & 4 p.m.)

Game 1 – Lee 6, West Georgia 1

With Gagliardo (2-0) in command for eight solid innings, the Flames wasted no time in taking the series 2-0. The lefty allowed seven hits, one earned run, struck out seven, did not walk a man and hit one batter. Hunter Lane came on to work a perfect ninth inning.

The Flames jumped on top 1-0 in the third inning. Luke Collier singled, stole second and third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Standifer. Four big runs helped salt the victory away in the fifth. JJ Williams got the rally going with a double and scored on a two-run homer by Riley Black. Standifer walked and Cam Suto made it a two-homer inning when he drilled the long ball, giving Lee a 5-0 lead.

An insurance run was tacked on in the seventh. Black started things with a walk and Standifer was safe with an infield hit. Suto continued to have his fine game at the dish with a one-base knock that loaded the bases. Brandon Daniels collected the RBI when he picked up a free pass.

All totaled, the Flames made the best of seven hits in the win. Suto and Black were the leaders. Suto collected a pair of RBI and scored once while Black also had two runs batted in and he scored twice. Matthew Batts, Williams and Collier also hit safely.

Game 2 – West Georgia 2, Lee 1

The second game of the twinbill was a tough loss for the Flames. They held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Wolves took advantage of some free passes and put two runs on the board to avoid a sweep.

Lee’s only run came in the third inning when Standifer drilled his second homerun of the series. The Flames totaled five hits in the loss and Standifer had three of the hits while Collier and Brock Sisson also had base hits.

Smith (2-2) was the hard-luck loser in the affair. He allowed only two hits and two earned runs but gave up three walks and hit three Wolves batters. Freshman Zachary Lawson came on to face one batter while Ty Cobb made his second appearance in the series. He pitched a full inning and walked a pair of hitters.

In the two-run sixth inning by West Georgia, the first hitter walked and the next was hit by a pitch. Coach Mark Brew ordered a pitching change and called on Lawson who hit the only batter he faced. Under pressure, Cobb issued a free pass that gave the Wolves a 1-1 tie and a fly ball pushed the winning run across the plate. It was the only lead enjoyed by West Georgia in three games.

West Georgia only managed two hits the entire contest, but picked up five free passes and of course four batters hit by pitches. Brendan Parks started and worked five innings for the Wolves. Garrett Moody pitched the final two innings and got credit for the victory. He did not allow a hit and fanned a couple of Lee batters.

Coach Mark Brew’s thoughts:

“It was a tough final couple of innings in game two. We gave up a few freebies and had the top of our lineup at the plate with runners on first and second with no outs in the seventh, but we could not get the big hit. Nelson (Smith) gave us a solid start and it is great to see Dylan (Standifer) heating up at the plate.

“In game one, Keegan (Gagliardo) would not be denied. He pitched excellent for eight innings against a tough lineup. We got a couple of big homers from (Cam) Suto and (Riley) Black to give us that big four-run inning.
“It is a great series win on the road against a very good West Georgia team. We still have some work to do and need to get some key players in the lineup clicking.”