CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The University of North Alabama rallied from a 3-0 deficit to pull out a 4-3 win in game two of a Gulf South Conference double-header at Lee to earn a split with the Flames. Lee won the first game 10-2.
Lee scored two runs in the first inning of the nightcap and made it 3-0 in the third off UNA starter
Bradley Bailey.
Devan Traglia came on to pitch four scoreless innings and allowed the Lions time to get their bats going. UNA scored a run in the fourth on a solo home run by
Kyle Hubbuch, his sixth of the season. The Lions then scored three more in the fifth to take the lead.
Taylor Hayes singled to start the inning and
Davis Elliott walked. Lee then made an error on a sacrifice bunt by
Heath Wood that allowed Hayes to score.
Conner Kiser drove in the tying run with a squeeze bunt and Wood later scored after a wild pitch and a throwing error.
UNA was out-hit 10-to-six in the game but played error free.
Traglia (2-2) got the win, while
Blake Talley came on to pitch a scoreless seventh and earn his first save of the season. He allowed two hits and had one strikeout. Hubbuch led the Lions with two hits.
Todd Gibson (2-2) took the loss in the opener, allowing four runs on five hits over the first two innings. Lee got three runs in the first and one in the second, then added one in the fourth for a 5-0 lead. UNA scored two runs in the sixth but Lee answered with three of its own in the bottom of the frame to push its lead to 8-2. The Flames then scored two more in the eighth to make the final 10-2.
Austin Carpenter pitched three and a third innings of relief and allowed four runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Shawn Smirnoff pitched the final two and two thirds innings and surrendered two runs on four hits.
UNA was out-hit 16-to10 in the game with Hubbuch,
Kyle Crabtree,
Davis Elliott and
Heath Wood contributing two hits each.
UNA is now 13-6 overall and 7-4 in the GSC. Lee is 10-12 and 3-8.
The Lions and Flames play the final game of the series Saturday at noon.