CLEVELAND, Tenn. ----- The No. 18 Auburn Montgomery baseball team dropped the opening game of its three-game Southern States Athletic Conference series at No. 3 Lee University on Friday, 18-6.

With the loss, the Warhawks fell to 9-6 on the season and 2-2 in SSAC play. The Flames improved to 13-2 on the year and 4-0 in league games.

Seniors Chad Mansmann and Wes Hughes led AUM with two hits each, while fellow senior Shane Turner and sophomore Bryan Young each drove in a pair of runs. Mansmann and junior Josh Thompson scored twice.

On the mound, Chad Reeves (1-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits in four innings of work.

Derrick Pitts keyed the offensive attack for Lee, driving in six runs, four of which came on a grand slam. Josh Silver finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Myles Smith earned the victory, allowing two runs in five innings, to improve to 4-0.

The two teams will conclude their series on Saturday with a doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.