Liberty University
4-7
Binghamton
2-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 4 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 1 |
Liberty Rally Falls Short in Game One of Doubleheader
3/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Despite cutting its deficit to one in the bottom of the sixth inning, a rally by Liberty fell short, as the Flames fell to the Binghamton Bearcats, 12-7, in the first game of a doubleheader, Saturday at Worthington Stadium.
Liberty catcher Casey Rasmus had three hits, including a solo home run and a RBI double, to pace the Flames.
Liberty falls to 4-7 on the season. Binghamton moves to 2-4.
The Flames took a short-lived 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning. Center fielder Ian Parmley split the right-center field gap for a triple with two outs and scored the contest's first run on a balk by Bearcat starter Mike Augliera.
In the top of the next inning, Binghamton struck for five runs to take the lead. With one away, first baseman Dave Ciocchi reached on an infield single and moved to second on a single by center fielder Corey Taylor. After the next batter lined out for the second out of the inning, third baseman Jordan Smucker dropped a two-run single into center field, putting the Bearcats in front, 2-1. Shortstop John Howell followed with a RBI single, and a two-run double by right fielder Peter Bregartner upped the Binghamton edge to 5-1.
The Flames countered in the bottom of the inning with three runs, cutting the Bearcat advantage to a single run. Right fielder Michael Robertson started the uprising with a run-scoring single. With first baseman Austin Taylor at the plate next, designated hitter Justin Sizemore scored from third base on a wild pitch, slicing the Liberty deficit to 5-3. Second baseman Dalton Sype followed with a single to cash in Robertson to make it, 5-4 Binghamton.
The Bearcats extended their lead in the fifth. Catcher C.J. Lukaszewski singled and Ciocchi doubled to open the inning. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, designated hitter Jeff Skelhorne-Gross lined a double inside the left field line to clear the bases, upping the Binghamton lead to 8-4.
Once again, Liberty answered with a run in the bottom of the frame, cutting its deficit to three runs at 8-5. Rasmus connected for his second home run of the year, a one-out blast over the right wall, inching the Flames closer.
After the Bearcats went down in order in the top of the sixth, the Flames rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Shortstop Matt Williams hit a one-out, solo home run to left field. Third baseman Tyler Bream followed with a single through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a ground out. Sizemore then ripped a run-scoring double off the right-center field wall, whittling the Binghamton advantage to 8-7.
However, it was all the closer the Flames could come in the seven-inning contest. In the top of the seventh, the Bearcats loaded the bases with one out and the next batter, Smucker, lined a grand slam into the right field bullpen, giving Binghamton a 12-7 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Liberty was able to get a runner on with one out. However, Bearcat reliever Alex Adami retired the next two hitters, sealing the Binghamton win.
Flames starter John Niggli takes the loss, evening his record at 1-1 on the season. The junior, the first of four pitchers in the game for Liberty, gave up six runs on eight hits over four innings. He did not strike out a batter and walked two.
Augliera picks up the win for the Bearcats, also evening his season's mark at 1-1. The right-hander gave up five runs on eight hits during 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Besides Rasmus, Williams and left fielder Doug Bream had two hits apiece for the Flames. Liberty had 11 total hits in the contest. Taylor went 3-for-3 with a walk for the Bearcats, scoring three times. Binghamton managed 12 hits in the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Augliera, Mike (2-0)
L: Niggli, John (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Bregartner, Peter 1 ; Ciocchi, Dave 1 ; Taylor, Corey 1 ; Skelhorne-Gross, Jef 1
HR: Smucker, Jordon 1
RBI: Bregartner, Peter 2 ; Skelhorne-Gross, Jef 3 ; Smucker, Jordon 6 ; Howell, John 1
SH: Skelhorne-Gross, Jef 1 ; McGraw, Shaun 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lukaszewski, C.J. 1 ; Ciocchi, Dave 3 ; Taylor, Corey 3 ; McGraw, Shaun 2 ; Smucker, Jordon 2 ; Howell, John 1
CS: Bregartner, Peter 1
Batting:
2B: Williams, Matt 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 1
3B: Parmley, Ian 1
HR: Williams, Matt 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 1
RBI: Williams, Matt 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 2 ; Robertson, Michael 1 ; Sype, Dalton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parmley, Ian 1 ; Williams, Matt 1 ; Bream, Tyler 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 2 ; Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
SB: Williams, Matt 1
HBP: Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
