Liberty University
6-4
North Carolina
7-3
Early Lead Pushes No. 11 Tar Heels Past Flames
3/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels jumped out to an early lead, then held off a Liberty Flames' rally for a 6-4 win, Monday night at the Liberty Baseball Stadium. The win snapped a four-game Liberty winning streak.
After the Tar Heels built a 6-2 advantage through the first seven innings, host Liberty plated a run in the eighth to close to within three.
In the ninth, the Flames scored another run to cut their deficit to two runs, 6-4, and had the tying run at plate with one out and a runner on third base. However, the Tar Heels were able to retire the next two batters to close out the 6-4 victory.
Liberty drops to 6-4 on the season. North Carolina improves to 7-3. It was the first visit by the Tar Heels to Lynchburg, Va., since 2000 and only the third in the all-time series.
Both teams scored runs in the game's opening inning. North Carolina used two singles and a walk to push across its run in the top of the frame. Third baseman Logan Warmoth's RBI single gave the visitors a 1-0 edge.
In the bottom of the inning, Liberty benefited from two Tar Heel errors. Left fielder Josh Close reached on a fielding error by North Carolina second baseman Brian Miller. Two batters later, he moved to third on a throwing error by the Warmoth on a ground ball by first baseman Alex Close. A wild pitch then allowed Josh Close to score and tie the contest at 1-1.
Both squads plated runs in the second. Back-to-back triples by center fielder Adam Pate and Miller gave the Tar Heels a 2-1 edge. Left fielder Landon Lassiter followed with a RBI grounder to give North Carolina a 3-1 lead.
Liberty answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning. Center fielder Aaron Stroosma walked to open the frame and advanced to second on a ground out. A single by second baseman Clay Keranen moved Stroosma to third, where he later came home on a wild pitch to make it, 3-2 Tar Heels.
North Carolina extended its advantage in the fourth. First baseman Zack Gahagan led off the inning with his first home run of the season. Later in the inning, a two-out single by catcher Adrian Chacon produced another tally for a 5-2 advantage.
In the seventh, the Tar Heels used back-to-back doubles to lengthen their lead to 6-2. Shortstop Alex Raburn doubled with one out and came around to score on a double by designated hitter Ryder Ryan.
Liberty began chipping away at the North Carolina advantage in the eighth. With one out, Josh Close singled back through the middle of the infield and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Right fielder Shepherd followed with a grounder to third base, which Warmoth threw high and into the Tar Heels' dugout, allowing the runner to come home.
In the ninth, the Flames rallied. With one out, pinch hitter Nick Walker walked. Shortstop Dalton Britt followed with a double into the left field corner, moving pinch runner Jake Kimble to third base. With one out, Kimble scored on a wild pitch and Britt advanced to third base. However, North Carolina closer Trent Thornton was able to retire the next two Flames to record his third save of the year and seal the 6-4 victory.
Liberty starting pitcher Ashton Perritt drops to 0-2 on the year. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits over the first two innings. He struck out two Tar Heels and walked one.
North Carolina reliever Trevor Kelly moves to 1-0 on the year. Kelly gave up one unearned run on one hit over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three Flames and did not walk a batter.
Liberty collected three hits in the contests. North Carolina had 12 hits.
The Flames will travel to tomorrow to Durham, N.C., for a contest with the Duke Blue Devils. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Trevor Kelley (1-0)
L: Perritt, Ashton (0-2)
S: Trent Thornton (3)
Batting:
2B: Alex Raburn 1 ; Ryder Ryan 1
3B: Brian Miller 1 ; Adam Pate 1
HR: Zack Gahagan 1
RBI: Brian Miller 1 ; Landon Lassiter 1 ; Logan Warmoth 2 ; Ryder Ryan 1 ; Zack Gahagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brian Miller 1 ; Landon Lassiter 1 ; Alex Raburn 1 ; Zack Gahagan 1 ; Adam Pate 2
SB: Landon Lassiter 1 ; Adam Pate 1
HBP: Adam Pate 1
PO: Alex Raburn 1
Batting:
2B: Britt, Dalton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Close, Josh 2 ; Stroosma, Aaron 1 ; Kimble, Jake 1
HBP: Yacyk, Andrew 2
