Liberty University
32-20, 15-7
High Point
26-23, 13-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
Panthers Rally to Edge Flames, 6-5
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The High Point Panthers rallied to edge the Liberty Flames, 6-5, Thursday evening at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The visiting Panthers erased deficits of 4-0 and 5-2 for the come-from-behind victory.
Liberty right fielder Will Shepherd had two hits, including his fifth home run of the year, and scored twice in the contest. First baseman Alex Close hit his sixth home run of the season, his second in as many games, for the Flames.
Liberty drops to 15-7 in the Big South and 32-20 overall. High Point improves to 13-9 in conference action and 26-23 overall.
The Flames took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With two out, Shepherd lined a double into the left field and scored on a single by left fielder Nick Paxton to give Liberty the early advantage.
The Flames extended their cushion to 4-0 in the third, striking again with two outs. Center fielder Ashton Perritt reached on a two-out error by Panthers first baseman Carson Jackson and shortstop Dalton Britt walked. Close followed with a three-run home run off the scoreboard in left field for a 4-0 lead.
Both teams plated runs in the fourth. In the top of the inning, High Point scored its first two runs of the contest. Designated hitter Brady Williamson led off the frame with a single and scored on a double by second baseman Chris Clare for the first Panthers run. After being bunted over to third, Clare came home on a ground out by center fielder Josh Greene, cutting the host's edge to 4-2.
Shepherd opened the bottom of the inning with a home run over the left field wall, pushing the Liberty lead back to three runs at 5-2.
High Point tied the contest in the seventh. Right fielder Dane McDermott reached on a one-out bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After moving to third on a ground out, McDermott plated the first run of the inning on a single by Clare. Catcher Josh Spano then walked, and both runners scored on a triple by Josh Greene, knotting the game at 5-5.
After a pitching change, Close struck out Jackson to end the inning, stranding the go-ahead run, Greene, at third.
High Point pushed across what proved to be the winning run in the eighth. Left fielder Cody Manzella led off the inning with a triple. After the next two batters struck out, a balk allowed Manzella to score for a 6-5 Panthers advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, Liberty was able to get the tying run on base with one out, as third baseman Clay Keranen walked. However, reliever Joe Goodman struck out the next two batters to seal the 6-5 High Point victory and earn his sixth save of the year.
Close, who took over for Liberty starter Jared Lyons with two outs in the seventh, falls to 1-2 on the year. He gave up one run on one hit, striking out three.
The third pitcher of the evening for High Point, Michael Hennessey, moves to 2-4. He pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings, striking out four.
Liberty collected six hits. Keranen went 2-for-2 with two walks for the Flames. High Point had 11 hits, including three by Clare.
The Flames and Panthers will meet again, tomorrow at Liberty Baseball Stadium at 7 p.m. Before the game, Liberty will hold its Senior Night, as the eight seniors on the Flames' roster will be recognized.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HENNESSEY, Michael (2-4)
L: Close, Alex (1-2)
S: GOODMAN, Joe (6)
Batting:
2B: CLARE, Chris 1
3B: GREENE, Josh 1 ; MANZELLA, Cody 1
RBI: CLARE, Chris 2 ; GREENE, Josh 3
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMSON, Brady 1 ; CLARE, Chris 2 ; SPANO, Josh 1 ; MANZELLA, Cody 1 ; MCDERMOTT, Dane 1
Batting:
2B: Shepherd, Will 1 ; Keranen, Clay 1
HR: Close, Alex 1 ; Shepherd, Will 1
RBI: Close, Alex 3 ; Shepherd, Will 1 ; Paxton, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Britt, Dalton 1 ; Close, Alex 1 ; Shepherd, Will 2
HBP: Sankey, Becker 1 ; Salisbury, Nick 1
PO: Paxton, Nick 1
