March 25, 2008

                Cleveland, TN—The Lions headed down Highway 60 on Tuesday afternoon to take on the nation’s #2 team the Lee University Flames. Lee came into the game riding an astonishing 31 game win streak and boasting a record of 34-1. Bryan entered the game with a record of 11-17, having lost 4 straight and the Lions were looking to reverse their fortunes against the talented Flames.

                Bryan got two outstanding pitching performances, from Jeremiah Peters (Sr., P/OF, Sherwood, AR) in game 1 and from Matt Hicks (Sr., 1B/DH. Soddy Daisy, TN) in game 2, but was unable to produce any runs at the plate, losing 7-0 and 10-0 in the twin-bill. In game 1, Peters limited the hot hitting Flames to just 2 runs through the first 4 innings, using a good fastball and a nasty changeup to keep Lee off balance in the early going. Lee finally broke through in the 5^th inning, plating 5 runs on a couple of infield hits and a Bryan error. Ben Young (So.,P,Baton Rouge, LA) came on in relief of Peters and threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball in his first appearance since missing time with an injury.

                Peters kept the Lions in the ballgame, but Bryan could only manage to scratch out 5 hits over 7 innings against Flames’ starter Mitch Davidson. The biggest blow to the Lions’ chances of an upset came early in the contest, as a first inning chance to put runners in scoring position was defused by a botched sacrifice bunt attempt. Lee managed the escape the inning unscathed and the Lions did not threaten again after that.

                In game 2, Hicks, who plays 1^st base and DH as well as hits in the middle of Bryan’s lineup, made just his 3^rd collegiate appearance on the mound and tossed a gem, again limiting the Flames to just 2 runs over the games first 4 innings. Much like in game 1, the Lions managed to put 2 runners on base with nobody out in the early going, but the sacrifice bunt attempt was popped up and the runners left stranded as Bryan came away without a run. With Hicks in a jam in the 4^th inning, Adam Polston (Fr.,P, Palmyra, TN) came on in relief and induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

                Polston would allow one more run in the 5^th inning as Lee stretched the lead to 3-0. With the Flames still in sight, Brad Starnes (Sr.,OF/1B, Matthews, NC) led off the 6^th inning with a sharp liner up the middle, but Flames’ starter Josh Rose worked out of the inning without allowing a run. Lions’ reliever Mark Barnwell (Jr.,P, Crab Orchard, TN) came into pitch in the 6^th inning, and struggling with control, lasted only 1/3 of an inning while walking 3 and eventually being credited with 3 runs. Shortstop J.D. Davis (Fr.,SS, Atlanta, GA) came in to relieve Barnwell and the trouble continued as Davis hit a batter, walked another and surrendered a grand slam to Flames right fielder Kevin Wyman to push the lead up to 9. With runners on 1^st and second and 2 outs in the inning, Lee catcher Brad Griffiths lined a single into right field which plated the Flames’ 10^th run and ended the contest due to the NAIA’s mercy rule.

                Lions’ Head Coach Joel Johnson had the following to say about his team, “Things have certainly not gone as we planned this year, and it doesn’t help to run into a team on a 31 game win streak, but I thought our pitchers gave us a chance against the 2^nd team in the country. You can’t ask for much more than what Peters and Hicks gave us tonight. We walked 16 in the 2 games tonight, but that number isn’t representative of what we did on the hill. Seven of those walks came in that last inning which was a disaster. There is still time for us to turn the corner and get back on track, but we have to do a better job of executing. When we get chances to score in a close ballgame with a team like Lee, we have to take advantage of those opportunities. The great teams take advantage of mistakes and that’s what Lee did tonight. Our guys will need to decide where they want to go from here. We’ll find out this weekend when Covenant comes to town just how bad the guys want to keep playing.”

                The loss puts the Lions at 11-19 (1-7) in conference play, while the Flames improve to 36-1. Bryan will return to action on Saturday when the rival Scots of Covenant College travel to Dayton for an AAC doubleheader. The game has important conference implications as the two teams are currently tied for the bottom 2 slots in the AAC standings.