Lane swept a weekend series from Miles, getting three complete games and stifling the Golden Bears bats in taking a doubleheader on Saturday before grabbing the single-game finale on Sunday. Nick Copen and Trent Jones both had great starts but the offense was only able to muster 12 hits over the three games. The loss in the opener ended the Golden Bears' seven game win streak. Lane is now 10-14 overall and 9-6 in SIAC play. Miles falls to 12-13 overall, 10-5 in conference play.

GAME 1 - Lane 4, Miles 3

Nick Copen extended his scoreless inning streak to 20 1/3 but the Dragons scored all their runs against the bullpen in the eighth and ninth to steal the victory. The Golden Bears got a RBI from Kolby King as part of a two-run second and Auston Brewer got a one-out, run-scoring single that plated Jordan Pearson in the seventh for a 3-0 advantage.

But Lane got two back in the eighth with both runs charged to Drew Shackleford. In the ninth, Austin Douglas (2-1) started the frame by allowing the first two hitters to reach base. Camden Matthews came in and retired the first two hitters but gave up back-to-back singles that scored the tying and go-ahead runs for the Dragons. In the home half, Mason McClammy singled and got to second with the tying run. But Thomas Touchette (2-1) got the final out to finish the complete-game win. 


GAME 2 - Lane 12, Miles 0

Miles had just two hits and Lane used a eight-run fourth inning to take control of the contest. Branson Honea (1-3) gave up a solo home run in the first but otherwise looked locked in until the fateful fourth, where the Dragons sent 12 hitters to the plate. Several of the hits where chopped into the ground or otherwise found spots grass just out of the reach of Miles defenders. Add in two errors and five of the runs were unearned as Lane jumped out to a huge lead.

Lane pitcher Austin Lee (1-1) tossed a gem, going the entire way in the seven-inning affair, striking out eight while not walking a batter. He only allowed singles to Brewer and Brandon Leroy and retired the final 14 batters of the game.

GAME 3 - Lane 4, Miles 2

Miles fell behind early and stayed close throughout thanks to some solid pitching by Jones (2-3), who went seven innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out eight. But Lane seemingly had a response each time Miles got close.

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, the Golden Bears got one back in the bottom half. With one out, Trey Rutledge singled and stole second. As Rutledge was taking off to steal third, Copen smoked one through the vacated hole where the shortstop went to backup third on the stolen base attempt. The single scored Rutledge and halved the deficit. Lane would add an unearned run in the third but the Golden Bears got that run back in the fourth when Copen - who had doubled - came around on a two-out error by the Dragons for a 3-2 deficit.

Again, the Dragons scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh and Miles looked ready to answer in the bottom of the eighth. Pearson reached third on a throwing error to lead off the inning and with one out, Brewer lofted a medium-depth fly ball to right field. Pearson tagged up looking to score but was thrown out by a wide margin, ending the inning and extinguishing the last scoring opportunity for the Golden Bears, who went down in order in the ninth against Nate McKenna (3-2), who tossed a complete-game three-hitter, striking out seven.

UP NEXT - Miles hosts Montevallo in an out-of-conference matchup on Wednesday. First pitch is set for noon.