Flames drop series to host Warhawks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Auburn University at Montgomery claimed a doubleheader win from Lee University on Saturday afternoon at QV Lowe Field and completed the three-game sweep of the GSC series. With the series loss the Flames dropped to 3-6 in the conference standings and 9-9 overall. AUM improved to 4-6 and 7-10. Lee will remain on the road on Tuesday when they travel to Lincoln Memorial University for a single nine-inning non-conference game slated for 2 p.m.

Game 1 – AUM 11, Lee 10

The Flames fought from behind for eight innings before finally tying the contest in the top of the ninth inning, only to see the Warhawks come right back and score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Lee cut the Warhawks lead to 6-4 in the fifth inning. Ashton Simmons got the inning started with a single. JJ Williams collected a RBI with a double and Luke Collier drove in two runs with a homer. The AUM margin grew to 9-4 when they scored three runs in the sixth inning.

The Flames rallied back with three runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 9-7. Williams singled, Collier was hit by a pitch and Williams scored on a wild pitch. Levi Cloud picked up a free pass and Gavin Baxter was hit by a pitch. Malachi Cloud singled up the middle to drive home two runs.

In the eighth, Collier doubled and Isaiah French picked up a RBI with a one-base hit, but the Warhawks came back with a run of their own to make it a 10-8 contest heading into the top of the ninth.

Lee refused to go away and tied the contest at 10 in the top of the inning. Baxter doubled, Malachi Cloud walked and Williams tripled to drive home both baserunners. AUM pushed across a single run in the bottom of the inning to score the 11-10 win.

Williams completed the contest with four hits, including a double and a triple, three RBI and scored three runs. Collier followed with three hits including a double and a homerun. He had two RBI and three runs scored. French had three hits including a double and knocked in two runs. Malachi Cloud had a pair of RBI while Baxter also collected a two-base hit.

Riley Orr had a huge day for the Warhawks. He had five hits including a homerun. The right-fielder posted seven RBI and finished the day with a pair of runs scored. AUM had 15 hits while Lee collected 14. Both teams left 11 runners on base.

Dylan Van Meeteren started and worked 1.1 innings for the Flames. He allowed four hits and three earned runs. Colt McKibben followed for 3.2 innings. He gave up three hits and two earned runs. Evan Bloomer came on for an inning and gave up two hits and three earned runs. Ty Cobb (0-1) was charged with the loss. In 1.1 innings he gave up five hits and two earned runs. Payte Williams was the starter for the Warhawks but it was Charlie Bagwell who was the fifth AUM pitcher of the day that worked only one inning and got credit for the victory.

Game 2 – AUM 7, Lee 4

The Warhawks wasted no time in jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Lee scored two runs in the third and tied the game at two. Williams walked, Collier tripled to right and scored Williams. A double by French pushed Collier across the plate.

The Warhawks went back on top for good in the bottom of the same inning with two more runs. Lee made it a 4-3 game in the top of the fourth. Baxter and Ryan Valdez walked and Baxter scored on a RBI ground out by Simmons. AUM quickly put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth to put the contest out of reach. Lee added its only other run in the fifth. French, Brock Sisson and Levi Cloud walked to load the bases and French tallied on a double-play ball.

The Flames had five hits in the loss. Collier led the way with a triple and a single while French doubled. The Warhawksmade the best of seven hits. Zach Drew tripled and knocked in two runs, scored twice while Orr blasted his second homerun of the day and collected a pair of RBI.

Will Baker (2-3) got the start and was charged with the pitching loss. He went 3.1 innings, surrendering six hits and seven earned runs. Matthew Delph turned in a solid relief effort. In 2.2 frames he allowed one hit, fanned three and did not allow a free pass. AUM used five pitchers in the win. Jayce James started and pitched three innings. Ryan Slaten came on for the final three innings and picked up his first save of the year. He allowed a pair of hits, struck out three and walked a batter.

Coach Mark Brew’s thoughts:

“We simply got outplayed all weekend and that is on me as a coach. Credit to AUM, but we have got to find a way to get clicking in all phases of the game. We will get back to work Monday and work on being more prepared.”