Friday, March 20
High Point, N.C.
6:00 PM
Liberty University
13-5, 2-1
9
at
8
High Point
5-11, 1-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 0 |
| HIGH POINT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
Double Pushes Liberty Past High Point
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Justin Richardson doubled home the go ahead run in the top of the ninth and reliever Andrew Wilson made it stand in the bottom of the frame, as the Liberty Flames defeated the High Point Panthers, 9-8, Friday night in the opening game of a three-game Big South series at Coy Willard Stadium.
Liberty moves to 2-1 in Big South Conference play and 13-5 overall. High Point drops to 1-4 in conference action and 5-11 overall. The victory was the third straight for the Flames.
With the game tied 8-8 in the top of the ninth, Liberty took the lead for good on a two-base hit by Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.). With two out and first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.) on second base, Richardson rocketed a double to the left center field gap to give the Flames a 9-8 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, High Point threatened to tie the contest by putting runners on the corners with two out against Wilson (Sr., RHP, Cary, N.C.) on a bad hop single by designated hitter Max Fulginiti. But, the Liberty right-hander induced Panther catcher Billy Alvino to ground out to second base, sealing the Flames' victory.
The host Panthers plated the first run of the contest in the second inning. Center fielder Kyle Mahoney led off the home half of the frame by squeezing a liner just past the right field foul pole for his second home run of the year, giving High Point an early 1-0 advantage.
Liberty erased the Panther lead with five runs in the fourth frame, benefitting from two High Point errors. Left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.) opened the Flames' uprising with a single and moved to second on an infield single by catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.). Third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) followed by ripping a double off the right field wall, chasing home Jefferson with the first Liberty run of the stanza. After a walk to Wimmer loaded the bases, designated hitter Joseph Feely (So., Chesapeake City, Md.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, putting the Flames in front, 2-1.
Once again, Liberty loaded the bases, when second baseman Kizuku Scott (Fr., Hampton, Va.) was hit by a pitch. Tyler Bream then scored, when a grounder by the next batter, shortstop Matt Williams, was mishandled by High Point third baseman Eric Marion for an error. Two batters later, Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) chopped a two-out grounder on the shortstop side near the bag at second, which was fielded cleanly by Panther shortstop Alfie Wheeler. However, the shortstop's throw sailed wide of first base and down the right field line, allowing two more runs to score for a 5-1 Liberty lead.
The Flames extended their advantage in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third base with two outs, Liberty's leading hitter on the season, right fielder Doug Bream, went the opposite way. The sophomore dropped a double over the head of the left fielder, chasing home both runners for a 7-1 lead.
After being held in check for the most part through the first five innings, High Point took back the advantage in the contest, rallying for seven runs in the sixth. All of the runs in the frame were scored with two outs. Fulginiti and Alvino began the burst for the Panthers, with back-to-back run-scoring singles to cut the Liberty lead to 7-3. Pinch hitter Rob Giles plated the third run of the inning, with the third consecutive High Point single. After a pitching change for the Flames, Wheeler walked with the bases loaded to make it, 7-5.
Second baseman Jeff Cowan kept the scoring spree going, tying the contest at 7-7, by dropping a two-run single in front of the left fielder. After center fielder Bill Manion was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Mahoney walked, forcing in a run and putting the host Panthers in front, 8-7.
Liberty tied the contest in the next inning. Hollinger looped a single into center field to begin the top of the seventh frame. The Flames' catcher advanced to second base, as Tyler Bream reached on catcher's interference. Two batters later, pinch hitter Richardson ripped the first of his two doubles on the night into the left field gap to score Hollinger, knotting the contest at 8-8.
Wilson, the third pitcher on the night for Liberty, records the win, running his record to 3-1 on the year. The senior right-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits.
High Point reliever Jeremy Berg takes the loss to drop to 1-1 on the season. He allowed two runs on five hits over three innings of work.
Liberty's Hollinger led all hitters in the contest with three hits. Doug Bream and Richardson had two hits apiece and each drove in two runs for the Flames.
Four Panthers had two hits, while Cowan and Mahoney each had two RBIs.
Liberty and High Point will meet again tomorrow evening in the middle game of their three-game conference series. Game time at Coy Willard Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Liberty moves to 2-1 in Big South Conference play and 13-5 overall. High Point drops to 1-4 in conference action and 5-11 overall. The victory was the third straight for the Flames.
With the game tied 8-8 in the top of the ninth, Liberty took the lead for good on a two-base hit by Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.). With two out and first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.) on second base, Richardson rocketed a double to the left center field gap to give the Flames a 9-8 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, High Point threatened to tie the contest by putting runners on the corners with two out against Wilson (Sr., RHP, Cary, N.C.) on a bad hop single by designated hitter Max Fulginiti. But, the Liberty right-hander induced Panther catcher Billy Alvino to ground out to second base, sealing the Flames' victory.
The host Panthers plated the first run of the contest in the second inning. Center fielder Kyle Mahoney led off the home half of the frame by squeezing a liner just past the right field foul pole for his second home run of the year, giving High Point an early 1-0 advantage.
Liberty erased the Panther lead with five runs in the fourth frame, benefitting from two High Point errors. Left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.) opened the Flames' uprising with a single and moved to second on an infield single by catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.). Third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) followed by ripping a double off the right field wall, chasing home Jefferson with the first Liberty run of the stanza. After a walk to Wimmer loaded the bases, designated hitter Joseph Feely (So., Chesapeake City, Md.) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, putting the Flames in front, 2-1.
Once again, Liberty loaded the bases, when second baseman Kizuku Scott (Fr., Hampton, Va.) was hit by a pitch. Tyler Bream then scored, when a grounder by the next batter, shortstop Matt Williams, was mishandled by High Point third baseman Eric Marion for an error. Two batters later, Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) chopped a two-out grounder on the shortstop side near the bag at second, which was fielded cleanly by Panther shortstop Alfie Wheeler. However, the shortstop's throw sailed wide of first base and down the right field line, allowing two more runs to score for a 5-1 Liberty lead.
The Flames extended their advantage in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third base with two outs, Liberty's leading hitter on the season, right fielder Doug Bream, went the opposite way. The sophomore dropped a double over the head of the left fielder, chasing home both runners for a 7-1 lead.
After being held in check for the most part through the first five innings, High Point took back the advantage in the contest, rallying for seven runs in the sixth. All of the runs in the frame were scored with two outs. Fulginiti and Alvino began the burst for the Panthers, with back-to-back run-scoring singles to cut the Liberty lead to 7-3. Pinch hitter Rob Giles plated the third run of the inning, with the third consecutive High Point single. After a pitching change for the Flames, Wheeler walked with the bases loaded to make it, 7-5.
Second baseman Jeff Cowan kept the scoring spree going, tying the contest at 7-7, by dropping a two-run single in front of the left fielder. After center fielder Bill Manion was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Mahoney walked, forcing in a run and putting the host Panthers in front, 8-7.
Liberty tied the contest in the next inning. Hollinger looped a single into center field to begin the top of the seventh frame. The Flames' catcher advanced to second base, as Tyler Bream reached on catcher's interference. Two batters later, pinch hitter Richardson ripped the first of his two doubles on the night into the left field gap to score Hollinger, knotting the contest at 8-8.
Wilson, the third pitcher on the night for Liberty, records the win, running his record to 3-1 on the year. The senior right-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits.
High Point reliever Jeremy Berg takes the loss to drop to 1-1 on the season. He allowed two runs on five hits over three innings of work.
Liberty's Hollinger led all hitters in the contest with three hits. Doug Bream and Richardson had two hits apiece and each drove in two runs for the Flames.
Four Panthers had two hits, while Cowan and Mahoney each had two RBIs.
Liberty and High Point will meet again tomorrow evening in the middle game of their three-game conference series. Game time at Coy Willard Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilson, Andrew (3-1)
L: BERG, J. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Bream, Doug 1 ; Bream, Tyler 1 ; Richardson, Justin 2
RBI: Williams, Matt 1 ; Bream, Doug 2 ; Bream, Tyler 1 ; Feeley, Joseph 1 ; Richardson, Justin 2
SF: Feeley, Joseph 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Matt 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 1 ; Hollinger, Errol 2 ; Bream, Tyler 1 ; Wimmer, Trey 2 ; Feeley, Joseph 1 ; Scott, Kizuku 1
HBP: Feeley, Joseph 1 ; Scott, Kizuku 1
Batting:
2B: ANDREWS, S. 1 ; ALVINO, B. 1
HR: MAHONEY, K. 1
RBI: WHEELER, A. 1 ; COWAN, J. 2 ; MAHONEY, K. 2 ; FULGINITI, M 1 ; ALVINO, B. 1 ; GILLES, R. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ANDREWS, S. 1 ; WHEELER, A. 1 ; COWAN, J. 1 ; MAHONEY, K. 1 ; WHITE IV, M. 1 ; FULGINITI, M 1 ; ALVINO, B. 1 ; ATWOOD, S. 1
HBP: ANDREWS, S. 1 ; COWAN, J. 1 ; MANION, B. 1
Game Leaders
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AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
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AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
.jpg&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
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AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
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