Lions Lose to NAIA #3 Lee University

Game Recaps + Baseball + Athletics
February 28, 2008
Box Score 
                Dayton, TN—Bryan hosted the NAIA’s #3 Team, the Lee University Flames, in a single 9-inning contest on Thursday afternoon in a makeup game from Tuesday’s rain out. The Lions sat at 7-7 while Lee is off to a torrid start this season with a near perfect record of 18-1.
                On the hill for the Lions was Joey Mohler (Jr., Calhoun, AL), looking for his first victory of the season, but Mohler had his hands full with the talented Flames in the early going. After striking out the lead-off hitter, Mohler hit the next Lee batter before Flames’ shortstop Brian Bistagne hit a towering two run blast over the lights in left center to give his team an early 2-run lead. Mohler retired the next hitter on a ground ball, with 2 outs Lee first baseman Chris Wharters hit a long homerun over the scoreboard in right center to add to the lead. As they headed into the bottom of the frame, the Lions trailed 5-0.
                Mohler would settle in as the two teams traded zeroes through the second, third and fourth innings. The Lions lone hit in the early innings came on a infield single by Jeremy Potts (Sr., Danville,KY) in the 3rd. Bryan lefty Daniel Bosarge (Jr., Rome, GA) came on in the 5th inning when Mohler foud himself in trouble, and was greeted rudely by the hot hitting Flames. Lee leftfielder Ross Collins hit a solo bomb deep down the left field line to extend the lead and Warters would later double, plating 2 more Flames. Jeremiah Peters (Sr., Sherwood, AR) led off the bottom half of the 5th inning with a double off the wall in right field, but was thrown out stealing third to squelch the Lions threat.
                Bryan shortstop JD Davis (Fr., Atlanta, GA) came on to pitch, hoping his submarine style would throw off the Lee hitters, however the Flames managed to tack two more runs onto their lead, extending the cushion to 15. In the bottom half of the 7th Davis stepped to the plate and delivered a hard single through the infield off Flames closer Kyle Lymberopoulos to start the inning. Peters, the Lions’ DH, delivered another single, advancing Davis to second.  Davis advanced to third on a ball in the dirt, and a mishandled throw from the catcher ended up down the leftfield line, allowing Davis to trot home with Bryan’s first run of the contest. Lymberpoulos settled down after that, inducing a pop-up and groundout to end the game.
                For the Lions, Mohler took the loss after working 4 innings and allowing 10 runs, 9 earned on 8 hits, 3 walks and 2 hit batsmen. Flames starter Mitch Davidson got the win, scattering 4 hits over 6 innings of work. Peters led the Lions offensively with 2 hits in 2 trips to the plate, while Davis scored the only run for Bryan.
With the loss, Bryan falls to 7-8 on the season. The Lions now turn their attention to Saturday’s AAC tilt in Barbourville, KY at Union College. The Bulldogs are also ranked among the NAIA’s top 25 teams, currently ranked 17th in the latest poll. First pitch is scheduled for 12PM.