CARROLLTON, Ga. - The University of West Georgia Baseball team dropped Game One of their three-game series, 10-8, to the Lee Flames on Saturday.
UWG (9-7, 5-2 GSC) fell down 9-0 to Lee (11-5, 5-2 GSC) in the fourth inning before coming all the way back and making it a two run game in the ninth inning before their comeback fell short.
"Our guys showed a lot of heart and grit and I'm very proud of them," said head coach
Jeff Smith. "We can't continue to give other teams opportunities like we did early in this game."
Seth Dudley got the start for the Wolves and the first pitch he threw got sent over the left field fence by Lee's lead-off hitter, Dylan Standifer, beginning a four-run inning for the Flames.
West Georgia couldn't get a run back in their half of the first before Lee added to their lead in the second inning courtesy of Standifer's second homer of the game.
Dudley bounced back in the third, by sitting down the Flames 1-2-3, but Lee's starting pitcher Jeff Nedrow kept UWG's offense at bay before his offense gave him four more runs in the top of the fourth, propelling the Flames to a 9-0.
The Wolves got on the board in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a solo home run from
Luke Hatcher. Later in the inning,
Jackson Webb drew a bases loaded walk before Patrick McCollough collected an RBI-single, scoring
Jared Emory to make it a 9-3 game.
Cooper Prince capped off a four run-inning with a sacrifice fly that scored
Cade Hohl.
With the score at 9-4, a combination of
Hunter Gulledge and
Jonathan Hickman got through the fifth inning unscathed before Emory drove home Hatcher in the bottom half of the inning via a sacrifice fly, cutting UWG's deficit to 9-5.
Hickman remained in the game in the sixth and retired the side with no issues. In the bottom half, an error from Lee's shortstop scored Prince, making it a three-run game as we went to the seventh.
Both offenses were stifled in the next couple innings as the game progressed to the ninth inning with West Georgia still down three.
Lee got an insurance run in their half of the ninth, giving them a 10-6 lead before we went to the bottom half.
The Wolves loaded up the bases with Witmer, Emory, and Hohl occupying first, second, and third to begin their half of the ninth.
Michael Rich drew a bases loaded walk before Emory scored on a passed ball, making it a 10-8 game.
Patrick McCullough stepped into the box as UWG's last chance and went down swinging to conclude Game One.
Hatcher, Emory, and Patrick all recorded two hits and two runs. Hickman threw 4.1 innings while only allowing two hits and one earned run on six strikeouts.
"It starts and end on the mound with our starters for us," coach Smith continued. "If they come out and locate, command the baseball, and they're focused, this team will compete at a high level."
West Georgia will conclude their three-game series against Lee on Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. double header.
