Liberty University
31-18, 15-5
Coastal Carolina
33-16, 15-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 2 |
| Coastal Carolina | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 8 | 4 |
5-Run 6th Pushes Coastal Carolina Past Liberty, 7-4
5/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Trailing 3-2, the No. 26 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers used a five-run sixth inning to defeat the Liberty Flames, 7-4, Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.
The Flames had taken a one-run advantage in the top of the sixth, only to see the Chanticleers erase it in the bottom of the inning in the Big South contest.
Liberty left fielder Nick Paxton collected two hits, a double and a RBI in the contest, while also scoring two runs. Third baseman Sammy Taormina also had two hits for the Flames and plated a run.
Liberty drops to 15-5 in Big South Conference play and 31-18 overall. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Flames. Coastal Carolina moves to 15-5 in conference and 33-16 overall.
After waiting two hours for rain to stop in order to start the contest, rain fell intermittently throughout the game.
Coastal Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the third. With second baseman Seth Lancaster aboard and two out, right fielder Connor Owings lined his seventh home run of the season over the right field wall to give the host Chanticleers the lead.
In the fifth, Liberty scored its first run of the contest. With one out, Paxton lined a double into the right center field gap. Second baseman Nick Salisbury followed with a single to score Paxton, cutting the Coastal Carolina edge to one at 2-1.
Liberty went in front on the scoreboard briefly in the top of the sixth. The Flames loaded the bases to open the inning, benefitting from two errors by the Chanticleers. First baseman Alex Close reached on a throwing error by third baseman Zach Remillard, catcher Becker Sankey singled and right fielder Will Shepherd reached on a fielding error by Remillard to fill the bases with Flames.
After a Coastal Carolina pitching change, Taormina singled to center field to plate Close, tying the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Salisbury brought home Sankey with a ground out for a 3-2 edge.
In the bottom of the inning, Coastal Carolina batted around, plating five runs. Shortstop Michael Paez walked to begin the inning. Owings followed with his second home run of the contest and ninth of the year, giving the Chanticleers a 4-3 lead.
Coastal Carolina then proceeded to load the bases, as the next three batters reached on a bunt single and two hit batters. After a Liberty pitching change, a wild pitch allowed Remillard to score and make it, 5-3. First baseman Tyler Chadwick followed with a two-run single for a 7-3 lead.
The Flames rallied in the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate with one out. Paxton reached on a throwing error by Chanticleers shortstop Paez and moved to third on a single by pinch hitter Nick Walker to open the inning. Center fielder Ashton Perritt produced Paxton with a sacrifice fly for what proved to be the final score of 7-4. Shortstop Dalton Britt followed with a one-out single to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Coastal Carolina reliever Mike Morrison retired the next two Flames to end the game.
Liberty starting pitcher Victor Cole falls to 5-2 on the year. The left-hander gave up seven runs on seven hits over five-plus innings. The first of three Flames to pitch in the contest, he struck out six batters and walked one.
The second of four Coastal Carolina pitchers in the contest, reliever Brock Hunter improves to 3-0. Hunter pitched a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit, while striking out one.
Liberty collected 11 hits in the game. Coastal Carolina had eight.
The Flames and Chanticleers will meet in the final game of the series, tomorrow at Springs Brooks Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HUNTER, Brock (3-0)
L: Cole, Victor (5-2)
Batting:
2B: Paxton, Nick 1
RBI: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Taormina, Sammy 1 ; Paxton, Nick 1 ; Salisbury, Nick 1
SF: Perritt, Ashton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Close, Alex 1 ; Sankey, Becker 1 ; Paxton, Nick 2
SB: Paxton, Nick 1
CS: Perritt, Ashton 1
Batting:
HR: OWINGS, Connor 2
RBI: OWINGS, Connor 4 ; CHADWICK, Tyler 2
SH: MARKS, Anthony 1 ; COOKE, Billy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PAEZ, Michael 1 ; OWINGS, Connor 2 ; REMILLARD, Zach 1 ; YOUNG, G.K. 1 ; SCHROEDER, Casey 1 ; LANCASTER, Seth 1
CS: MARKS, Anthony 1
HBP: YOUNG, G.K. 1 ; SCHROEDER, Casey 1
PO: MARKS, Anthony 1
