The visiting Lions trailed 9-1 going into the top of the eighth inning. It appeared Lee had the contest in total control, but Bryan had other ideas. The Dayton team came roaring back with nine runs and stunned the second-ranked Flames, 10-9.
“Obviously, we let that game get away,” stated Lee coach Mark Brew. “Give Bryan credit for some big hits, but the walks,hit batters and errors really hurt us. We will have to re-focus and get ready for a good Shorter team and an important SSAC series (beginning Friday at 6 p.m.)”
The eighth-inning explosion against three Lee hurlers saw the Lions send 13 batters to the plate. A combination of three singles, three doubles, two walks, a hit batter and a game-winning triple by Shane Clawson, spelled defeat for the 31-7 Flames. Bryan improved to 20-11 with likely the biggest win in the school’s baseball history.
Lee came out smoking and scored nine runs in the first five innings. Three runs came in the first, one in the second and Justin Marrero blasted a two-run homer in the third. Marrero finished the contest with three hits. He had a double to go along with his four-bagger.
Joe Ramirez paced the 15-hit Lee offensive attack. He had three singles and a double and knocked in three runs. Chris Grayson banged out three hits, including a triple, while Travis Anderson stroked a double. The Flames left 16 base-runners stranded. They were also guilty of three errors.
For the Lions, Jonathan Davis rapped a triple and a double. Josh King batted in two runs with a two-base hit. Bryan made the best of nine hits off seven Lee hurlers.
Freshman Rob Rowland started and pitched four solid innings for the Flames. He gave up one unearned run, while striking out six and walking three. Two other freshmen, Ryan Zimmer and Dustin Lawson, helped usher the Flames into the eighth inning. Zimmer worked one scoreless inning and Lawson followed with two.
Senior Kris Dockery came on in the eighth and gave up five earned runs. Alex Taku pitched an inning and gave up a run, but it was Curtis Camilli who hurled 1/3 of an inning and was charged with the defeat. Bryan’s Tyler Vakey went to the mound for 3 2/3 innings and got the pitching victory.
