The Flames (26-3-1) took a 4-3 lead into the sixth inning in game one, but committed two errors in the sixth, leading to five Reinhardt runs. The Lee squad countered with three runs in the seventh, falling just short in the comeback attempt.
“The two errors in the sixth really hurt us,” said Lee head coach Mark Brew. “We let some scoring opportunities pass by early in the game as well. I thought we showed a lot of life responding with the three runs in the seventh, but the lead was too much to overcome.”
Reyes turned in a 3-for-4 clip in game one, knocking in two runs and scoring once. Trevor Burgess, Roberto Duran, and Taylor Comford each added a pair of hits. Corey Davis added two RBIs, drilling a triple and scoring a run.
Jose Samayoa started for Lee and worked four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Matt Passauer worked one scoreless inning, with Andy Hillis (2-1) taking the loss after working the sixth. Hillis allowed the five runs, one of them earned, on three hits.
For the Eagles (9-15), Michael Lonati went 3-for-4, knocking in three runs and scoring one. Taylor Smith moved to 1-1 with the win, working 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits. Trent Sheffield came on to hold the Lee rally, earning two outs to pick up the save.
In game two, David Eskew worked four innings to pick up the win (1-0), allowing two runs on four hits. Dustin Lawson and James Rechenbach combined to throw three scoreless innings, closing the door on the home club.
“We were certainly more focused in the second game,” added Brew. “Our offense was excellent. It was great to see Eskew pitch deep into the game. That is his first win since he beat Embry-Riddle in the 2010 NAIA World Series (he red-shirted 2011).”
Reyes and Davis led the Flames with three hits each, with Davis scoring twice. Reyes hit a home run, his team-leading eighth of the season. Freshman James Fowlkes also drilled a home run, tallying four RBIs and three runs scored.
Senior Blake Barber was the third Lee player with a dinger in the contest, his lone hit of the game. The Flames drilled a total of 13 hits, to go with 12 from the first game.
The No. 3 Flames will put their unbeaten conference record (12-0) on the line this weekend, traveling to Shorter University for a three-game weekend series. “We have one day of practice to get ready for a really good Shorter team,” concluded the Lee skipper.
