Friday, May 15
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
31-18, 17-8
3
vs
5
Radford
24-22, 15-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADFORD | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Flames Fall to Highlanders in Game One
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The visiting Radford Highlanders erased a 3-1 Liberty advantage with two runs in each the sixth and seventh innings, downing the Flames, 5-3, Friday afternoon in the first game of a Big South doubleheader at Worthington Stadium.
Liberty drops to 17-8 in the Big South Conference and 31-18 overall. Radford moves to 15-9 in conference play and 24-22 overall.
In the bottom of the first inning, the host Flames loaded the bases with two outs on three singles. However, Highlander starter Abram Williams induced the next Liberty batter to fly out to end the scoring threat.
Radford loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. After the next Highlander batter struck out looking, center fielder Tyren Rivers walked, forcing in catcher Robert Lamas, who singled to lead off the frame, with the game's first run.
After ending the top of the third inning on a double play with runners at the corners, Liberty plated three runs to stake itself to a 3-1 advantage. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) walked to open the frame and moved to third base on a single by center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.). Catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.) followed with a single to score Williams, knotting the game at 1-1. Redal then gave the Flames the lead, scoring on a grounder by designated hitter Justin Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.), which second baseman Rick Hoogstraten misplayed for an error. The next batter, left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.), dropped a single into the left field to bring home Richardson from second base with the inning's third run.
In the top of the sixth inning, Radford tied the contest. With runners on first and second and no one out, pinch hitter Raphel Turner grounded a ball through the middle of the infield, eluding each of the Flames' middle infielders for a single. The base hit allowed Lamas, who opened the frame with a single, to score from second base. After a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Brett Mollenhauer moved the base runners to second and third base, Rivers lifted a RBI sacrifice fly to right field to tie the contest at 3-3.
The Highlanders broke the tie with two runs in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Turner, who stayed in the game to play left field, singled up the middle, plating two runs for Radford's second lead in the contest and the final score of 5-3.
Liberty starter Steven Evans (So., LHP, Amherst, Va.) pitched the first five innings, giving up three runs on four hits, striking out four batters and walking four. He did not figure in the decision. Reliever Carter Browning (Jr., RHP, Ada, Okla.) takes the loss, evening his record at 2-2 on the year. The junior allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Radford starter Abram Williams gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits over four innings. Mark Beppler, who entered in the fifth inning, earned the win, evening his record at 1-1. Beppler did not allow a run or hit over five innings, striking out four.
Jefferson had two hits for the Flames. First baseman Alex Gregory led all hitters in the game with three hits. Lamas and Turner added two hits each for Radford.
Liberty drops to 17-8 in the Big South Conference and 31-18 overall. Radford moves to 15-9 in conference play and 24-22 overall.
In the bottom of the first inning, the host Flames loaded the bases with two outs on three singles. However, Highlander starter Abram Williams induced the next Liberty batter to fly out to end the scoring threat.
Radford loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. After the next Highlander batter struck out looking, center fielder Tyren Rivers walked, forcing in catcher Robert Lamas, who singled to lead off the frame, with the game's first run.
After ending the top of the third inning on a double play with runners at the corners, Liberty plated three runs to stake itself to a 3-1 advantage. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) walked to open the frame and moved to third base on a single by center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.). Catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.) followed with a single to score Williams, knotting the game at 1-1. Redal then gave the Flames the lead, scoring on a grounder by designated hitter Justin Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.), which second baseman Rick Hoogstraten misplayed for an error. The next batter, left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.), dropped a single into the left field to bring home Richardson from second base with the inning's third run.
In the top of the sixth inning, Radford tied the contest. With runners on first and second and no one out, pinch hitter Raphel Turner grounded a ball through the middle of the infield, eluding each of the Flames' middle infielders for a single. The base hit allowed Lamas, who opened the frame with a single, to score from second base. After a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Brett Mollenhauer moved the base runners to second and third base, Rivers lifted a RBI sacrifice fly to right field to tie the contest at 3-3.
The Highlanders broke the tie with two runs in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Turner, who stayed in the game to play left field, singled up the middle, plating two runs for Radford's second lead in the contest and the final score of 5-3.
Liberty starter Steven Evans (So., LHP, Amherst, Va.) pitched the first five innings, giving up three runs on four hits, striking out four batters and walking four. He did not figure in the decision. Reliever Carter Browning (Jr., RHP, Ada, Okla.) takes the loss, evening his record at 2-2 on the year. The junior allowed two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Radford starter Abram Williams gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits over four innings. Mark Beppler, who entered in the fifth inning, earned the win, evening his record at 1-1. Beppler did not allow a run or hit over five innings, striking out four.
Jefferson had two hits for the Flames. First baseman Alex Gregory led all hitters in the game with three hits. Lamas and Turner added two hits each for Radford.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BEPPLER, Mark (1-1)
L: Browning, Carter (2-2)
Batting:
2B: RIVERS, Tyren 1 ; GREGORY, Alex 1
RBI: RIVERS, Tyren 2 ; TURNER, Raphael 3
SH: MINTER, Nick 1 ; MOLLENHAUER, Brett 1
SF: RIVERS, Tyren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HOOGSTRATEN, Rick 1 ; GREGORY, Alex 1 ; LAMAS, Robert 2 ; COOK, Andrew 1
SB: RIVERS, Tyren 1
HBP: KEEN, Reggie 1 ; HOOGSTRATEN, Rick 1 ; COOK, Andrew 1
Batting:
RBI: Hollinger, Errol 1 ; Richardson, Justin 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Matt 1 ; Redal, Curran 1 ; Richardson, Justin 1
CS: Rotola, Tim 1
HBP: Jefferson, Jeff 1 ; Rotola, Tim 1
Game Leaders
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AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
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AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
.jpg&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
.jpg&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
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