Liberty University
1-1
Georgia State
1-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 3 |
| Georgia State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
Sankey Belts Game-Tying Home Run; Flames Defeat Georgia State, 10-7, in 11 innings
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Pinch hitter Becker Sankey hit a two-out, two strike game-tying three run home run in the ninth and the No. 23 Liberty Flames scored four runs in the 11th inning for a come-from-behind 10-7 win over the Georgia State Panthers in game one of a doubleheader at the GSU Baseball Complex. The contest was part of the season-opening Atlanta Challenge.
Trailing 6-3 in the top of the ninth inning and down to his last strike, Sankey belted his first home run of the year over the left field wall to tie the contest at 6-6. Catcher Alex Close doubled with one out and moved to third on a ground out by left fielder Andrew Yacyk. Right fielder Josh Close then walked to set the stage for Sankey, who connected on a 1-2 pitch to knot the game
In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers moved the winning run to third base with two outs. However, Flames pitcher Shawn Clowers retired the next batter on a grounder to second to send the game to extra innings.
Liberty went in front in the top of the 11th. Alex Close led off the inning with a single and two batters later, moved to third on a single by pinch hitter Nick Walker. Keranen, who entered the game in the bottom of the 10th, lined a single into center field in his first at bat of the season for an 8-6 lead.
Dylan Allen followed with an infield single and Sammy Taormina, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth, was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Center fielder Nick Paxton was then hit by a pitch, forcing in a run to make it, 9-6. Designated hitter Ashton Perritt lifted a sacrifice fly to add the final run of the inning to give the Flames a 10-6 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, Georgia State scored one run as Liberty closed out the 10-7 victory.
Alex Close collected two hits and scored three times. Britt also had two hits for the Flames.
Liberty evens its record at 1-1 on the year. Georgia State falls to 1-1. The contest was the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Georgia State struck for the game's first run in the bottom of the game's opening inning. The first three Panther batters reached. Two batters later, designated hitter Sam Few lined a one-out single to left field to plate shortstop Justin Jones for a 1-0 lead. On the hit, Panthers third baseman Caden Bailey tried to score, but Liberty left fielder Nick Paxton threw the runner out at the plate.
After Liberty loaded the bases with two out in the top of the second, only to come away empty, Georgia State extended its advantage in the home half of the inning. A one-out, RBI single by shortstop Justin Jones with runners at second and third upped the Panthers lead to 2-0.
Liberty tied the contest in the third. Second baseman Nick Salisbury reached base on a dropped third strike to open the inning and advanced to second when Alex Close walked. Two batters later, Josh Close's first collegiate hit, triple into the right field corner, brought home both runners to tie the contest at 2-2.
The Panthers went back in front in the fourth. With a runner aboard, first baseman Matt Rose connected for his third home run of the year to give Georgia State a 4-2 edge.
The Flames and the Panthers scored runs in the fifth. Liberty movd to within one with a two-out run in the top of the inning. First baseman Andrew Yacyk kept the inning alive by lining a single to center field. After Josh Close walked, Britt singled back through the middle of the diamond, cutting the Panthers lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the inning, right fielder Rhett Harper hit his first collegiate home run to push the Georgia State lead back to 5-3. Later in the inning, a bunt single by Jones plated another run for a 6-3 advantage.
The Flames tried to rally in the eighth. With two outs, pinch hitter Taormina singled and advanced to third base on a double into the right field corner by left fielder Nick Paxton. However, Panther reliever Kevin Burgee was able to get the next batter to ground out to shortstop to halt the threat.
Clowers, the fifth Liberty pitcher in the contest, moves to 1-0 on the season. The senior allowed one run on one hit over three innings. The left-hander struck out one and walked two batters.
Clayton Payne drops to 0-1 for the Panthers. The last of five Georgia State pitchers to toe the rubber in the contest, Payne gave up four runs on four hits in one inning of relief. He struck out two and walked one.
Liberty collected 15 hits. Georgia State had 12 hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clowers, Shawn (1-0)
L: Payne, C. (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Salisbury, Nick 1 ; Close, Alex 1 ; Paxton, Nick 1
3B: Close, Josh 1
HR: Sankey, Becker 1
RBI: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Close, Josh 2 ; Britt, Dalton 1 ; Sankey, Becker 3 ; Keranen, Clay 2 ; Paxton, Nick 1
SF: Perritt, Ashton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Salisbury, Nick 1 ; Close, Alex 3 ; Yacyk, Andrew 1 ; Close, Josh 1 ; Roberts, Tray 1 ; Sankey, Becker 1 ; Keranen, Clay 1 ; Allen, Dylan 1
SB: Roberts, Tray 1
CS: Paxton, Nick 1
HBP: Close, Josh 1 ; Paxton, Nick 2
Batting:
2B: Jones, J. 1 ; Sweeting, T. 1
HR: Rose, Matt 1 ; Harper, R. 1
RBI: Jones, J. 2 ; Rose, Matt 2 ; Few, S. 2 ; Harper, R. 1
SH: Roach, Joey 1 ; Levy, D. 1
SF: Few, S. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, J. 1 ; Bailey, C. 1 ; Rose, Matt 1 ; Harper, R. 1 ; Sweeting, T. 2 ; Levy, D. 1
SB: Jones, J. 1 ; Sweeting, T. 1
CS: Blanton, R. 1
