LYNCHBURG, Va. ?
Two runs in the bottom of the ninth gave Liberty a 2-1 Big South Conference win
over Presbyterian College Friday afternoon in a game that was originally slated
for 7 p.m., but was moved up due to the weather.
PC's win streak is snapped at two games. The Blue Hose now stand at 4-16 on the
season and 1-8 in conference play.
Garrett
Moore tossed six inning of four-hit shutout ball for head coach Elton Pollock's
team. Moore left the contest holding onto a slim 1-0 lead after PC
plated a run in the top of the sixth.
Mitchell
Odom came in to relieve Moore and did not allow a base runner in
two innings of work. Senior Daniel Hill came in to relieve Odom in the ninth
and gave up one run before leaving with the bases loaded and nobody out. Andrew
Foushee came in and despite a strong effort on the mound, walked in the
game-winning run.
In the top
of the second, redshirt-senior Jared Combs singled through the left side with
two outs. However, Gabe Grammer was unable to keep things going, grounding into
a fielder's choice.
After Moore shut down the Flames in their half of the second, PC went
back to work in the third. With one away, Drew Wingo sliced a single into right
field before moving to third on a throwing error with Jesse Harmon at the
plate. Harmon was credited with a sacrifice bunt on the play. However, Mack
Hite grounded into the 5-4-3 inning-ending double play to end
the threat.
Moore ran into a little bit of trouble in the third as Liberty loaded the bases with just one out.
PC's defense rose to the challenge as Moore used his arsenal to induce a 6-4-3 double play to finish off the frame
and get the team out of a jam.
Combs went
back to work for head coach Elton Pollock's team, doubling to lead off the fifth.
However, a failed bunt attempt, a fly out and a strikeout forced the Blue Hose
back on defense without plating a run.
In the
sixth, PC cashed in on its offense. Harmon singled up the middle to get things
going. Hite laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put Harmon on second. Then,
Cory Lyda belted a ball down the left field line for his first triple of the
season. In the process, Harmon crossed home to give the visitors a 1-0
advantage. Kenny Bryant would be intentionally walked, but was eventually picked
off of first to end the inning.
Combs
picked up his third hit of the day in the seventh, singling up the middle.
However, the Blue Hose failed to score as Combs was thrown out stealing and
Andrew Williams was unable to be plated after getting hit by a pitch.
PC's
pitchers continued to stay hot, not allowing a runner in the seventh or eighth
frames.
The Blue
Hose were retired in order in the ninth before Liberty scored the final two runs of the
game.
Daniel Hill
falls to 0-3 with the loss while Steven Evans picked up the win and moves to
4-0 with the complete game effort.
The teams
return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m., in the second game of the
three-game series.
