A generally inexperienced Cleveland State baseball team begins its season at 2 p.m. today at home against Roane State and travels Saturday to Roane to complete a three-game series. "We're building a pitching staff with a combination of freshmen and sophomores that saw limited action last season," veteran Cougars coach Mike Policastro said in a school release. "We do have five sophomores returning to the lineup that will see a lot of playing time." Sophomores Drew Curtis, Blake Thomasand Austin Phillips are set to start at first, second and third base - Thomas having batted .318 last year - with Troy transfer Lee Gibson at shortstop and freshman Sean McDermott also playing some first and designated hitter. Hagen Wilkeyis the only returner in the outfield and will be in right with fleet freshman Devin Gardner in center. Sophomore pitchers Drew Korzybski, Colton Morgan and Christian Amos combined for more than 100 innings last year and are expected to handle much of the starting load this season along with freshmen Jake Rogers and Justin Coleman. Rogers also can play third base.
* The Cleveland State softball team opens today in Cartersville, Ga., at the Georgia Highlands Border Battle. Coach Katie Willingham is counting on contributions from sophomores Courtni Hammers, Hannah Godfrey, Tori Townson, Mallory Souther, Kara Headrick and Alex Rominger, with Bryan College transfer Kaitlyn Heath, Meigs County's Madison Stiner and Bradley's Brittany Arnold among the newcomers. Headrick is the pitching ace, helped by freshmen Kaley Cagle, Haley Hodgson and Carly Frost.
* The Lee University softball team totaled 17 hits in five innings Thursday and won 18-7 at Montevallo. Hallie Davishomered twice and drove in five runs, NiaRaye Ceasar and Emily Dagnan were a combined 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs scored apiece and Lexie Dean was 3-for-4 and scored four times for Lee (2-1). Amanda Lynn had two hits and three runs.
Basketball
* The Lee Lady Flames shot only 32.8 percent from the field but edged Alabama-Huntsville 61-60 in the Gulf South basketball doubleheader Thursday in Cleveland. UAH won the men's game 78-66. Kayla Beavers was 4-for-5 on 3-pointers and led the Lee women (15-6, 12-4) with 12 points, while Christina Johnson had 14 rebounds. Dina Saunders andChandler Elder scored 16 points each with nine and seven rebounds for UAH (11-9, 8-8). Levi Woods had four 3s and 16 points for the Lee men, who got 15 points and 12 rebounds from Chase Cullen and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Rantavious Gilbert.