Liberty University
22-17, 12-5
VMI
19-19, 8-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| VMI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
Three-Run Ninth Propels Liberty to Game One Win
4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Liberty Flames rallied with three runs in the ninth inning and catcher Jeff Jefferson hit two home runs, downing the VMI Keydets, 8-6, in the first game of a Big South doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Gray-Minor Stadium.
With the win, the Flames move to 12-5 in the Big South and 22-17 overall. Liberty has won six consecutive Big South games. The Keydets fall to 8-9 in the conference and 19-19 overall.
Liberty hit five home runs in the contest, the most by the Flames this season. Liberty had previously hit three round trippers in a game last Sunday in a 7-1 win over Presbyterian College in the first game of a doubleheader.
Trailing 6-5, the Flames plated three runs in the top of the ninth to take an 8-6 lead. With one out, Jefferson belted his second home run of the game and fourth of the year to left field, tying the contest at 6-6. Second baseman Zach Haley followed with a home run inside the left field foul pole, putting Liberty on top for the second time in the game, 7-6. Center fielder Ian Parmley followed with the third consecutive hit of inning, a double to right field. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, right fielder Michael Robertson singled to right field, cashing in Parmley for an 8-6 advantage.
The back-to-back home runs by Jefferson and Haley to open the ninth inning, erasing the Flames' deficit, were the first back-to-back round trippers by Liberty since March 29, 2009. Outfielders Curran Redal and Doug Bream connected for home runs to lead off the fifth inning in a 14-7 victory over Presbyterian College.
Reliever Garrett Baker retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory.
VMI was not able to take advantage of two walks to open the game in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Sam Roberts and left fielder Graham Sullivan led off the frame by drawing bases on balls, but were stranded by Liberty starter Steven Evans. After both runners were moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt, Evans was able to get catcher Alex Haitsuka to ground out to first base and ended the Keydet threat by striking out designated hitter Justin Topping.
Liberty jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. Left fielder Bream opened the frame with a single through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, designated hitter Justin Sizemore lined the first pitch he saw over the left field wall. The designated hitter's third home run gave the Flames a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Jefferson upped the Liberty advantage. With one out, the Flames catcher ripped his third home run of the year over the left field wall for a 3-0 edge.
After being held hitless and scoreless through the first four innings by Evans, the Keydets struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Jordan Tarsovich and third baseman Chase Worthington led off the home half of the inning with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Justin Hess moved both runners into scoring position, a fly out down the left field line by Roberts plated the first VMI run of the game. Sullivan followed by dropping a single into left center field to score Tarsovich, trimming the Liberty lead to 3-2.
The Flames extended its lead in the top of the eighth inning. Parmley opened the frame with a bunt single. Two batters later, shortstop Matt Williams blasted his fourth home run of the season to the deepest part of Gray-Minor Stadium, center field, upping the Liberty advantage to 5-2.
Three errors by the Flames opened the door for VMI in the bottom of the inning. Roberts reached on a dropped throw by Liberty first baseman Austin Taylor to open the frame. He and the next batter, Sullivan, moved into scoring position on fielding errors by both Haley and Parmley on a ground ball by the Keydet left fielder. First baseman George Piccirilli followed with a base on balls, loading the bases with no one out. After the next two batters were retired, right fielder Jacob Morley cleared the bases and gave VMI its first lead of the day with his first home run of the year. The grand slam gave the Keydets a 6-5 advantage.
Liberty starter Evans allowed five runs, only two earned, on three hits over seven-plus innings. The senior left-hander struck out two batters and walked three. Baker runs his record to 5-2 on the year. The reliever gave up one run on one hit over two innings of relief. He struck one batter.
Roberts takes the loss to drop to 1-4 on the season. Taking over the pitching duties in the ninth, he allowed three runs on three hits in 1/3 innings.
Liberty totaled 11 hits in the game. Bream led all hitters in the contest with three hits. Parmley and Jefferson had two hits apiece for the Flames. VMI had four hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Garrett (5-2)
L: ROBERTS, Sam (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Parmley, Ian 1 ; Bream, Doug 1
HR: Williams, Matt 1 ; Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 2 ; Haley, Zack 1
RBI: Robertson, Michael 1 ; Williams, Matt 2 ; Sizemore, Justin 2 ; Jefferson, Jeff 2 ; Haley, Zack 1
SH: Robertson, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parmley, Ian 2 ; Williams, Matt 1 ; Bream, Doug 1 ; Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 2 ; Haley, Zack 1
SB: Parmley, Ian 1
CS: Parmley, Ian 1
HBP: Haley, Zack 1
Batting:
HR: MORLEY, J. 1
RBI: ROBERTS, Sam 1 ; SULLIVAN, Graham 1 ; MORLEY, J. 4
SH: PICCIRILLI,G 1 ; HESS, Justin 1
SF: ROBERTS, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SULLIVAN, Graham 1 ; PICCIRILLI,G 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 1 ; MORLEY, J. 1 ; TARSOVICH, Jordan 1 ; WORTHINGTON, Chase 1
HBP: TOPPING, J. 1
