Riley Black had a career-best at the plate and Jack Nedrow improved his pitching record to 8-0 in Lee’s 13-2 7-inning run-rule victory over Union University at Fesmire Field on Friday evening.
The Flames and Bulldogs will continue the three-game GSC series on Saturday. The opener is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch, and the nightcap is scheduled for 5 p.m. It was the 30th win (30-10) of the year for the 14th-ranked Lee club. They stand at 17-5 in league play. The Bulldogs dropped to 8-14, 14-22.
Black’s performance included a double, a three-run homer and seven RBI in four trips to the plate.
Brandon Daniels was the only other Flame with two hits. He had a pair of doubles, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Nedrow worked the complete game. Over seven innings, he allowed five hits, struck out eight, walked three and gave up two earned runs. Two of the three base on balls came in the sixth inning and the Bulldogs scored their only two runs of the game. The solid Lee defense turned in two well-executed double plays.
The Flames grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Luke Collier was hit by a pitch and Josiah Miller picked up a walk. Black drove a two-base hit to left-centerfield that plated Collier and Miller.
It remained a 2-0 score until Lee put four runs on the board in the sixth inning. Daniels started the rally with his two-base hit and scored on a RBI single by Matthew Batts. Collier reached on a one-base knock and Black cleared the bases with his three-run homer to make it a 6-0 game.
Union tallied two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Grant Ross had one of his two hits in the frame and had a RBI. Elijah Ramsey finished with two hits and Carson Chavis had the other Bulldog hit. Will Allen Smith and Dyllon Barrett scored Union’s runs.
The Flames took advantage of three walks and two hit batters to help win the game after seven innings. Dylan Standifer and Cam Suto walked to begin the seven-run inning. Daniels’ deep fly ball to center was misplayed by the Bulldog outfielder and it turned into a two RBI double that scored Standifer and Suto.
The inning continued when Batts was hit by a pitch. JJ Williams put down a bunt single that loaded the bases. Collier picked up a RBI with a free pass. Miller became the second Lee batter hit by a pitch and earned a RBI. Black’s big day ended when he ripped a double that scored two more runs.
Union used four pitchers. Noah Toney (1-5) started and worked six innings. He allowed eight hits, six earned runs, struck out four and walked only one. The other three Bulldog pitchers only allowed three hits but they also walked three and hit three Flames.