LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Presbyterian College baseball team looked to break its
recent tough stretch with a doubleheader against Liberty on Sunday, but the
Blue Hose could not pick up a win as the Flames took game one by a 7-1 margin and
won the finale as well, 5-2.
PC moves to 18-19 overall and 4-11 in the Big South. Liberty
improves to 20-16 overall and 10-5 in conference play.
The Blue Hose next travel to Boone, N.C., for an
out-of-conference matchup against Appalachian State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Game One
The day began with a loss as Liberty topped the Blue Hose in the opening matchup, 7-1.
PC pulled within one midway through the game but a four-run
sixth inning for Liberty put the Blue Hose in a deep hole.
Starting pitcher Bud Jeter (Columbia, S.C.) allowed four
earned runs and six overall in five and one-thirds innings while striking out
four Flames. Nick Ferguson (Lancaster, S.C.) offered a solid relief outing,
walking only one and keeping Liberty hitless in a two and one-third innings appearance.
Designated hitter Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) led the team
in hits with two and Andrew Williams (Augusta, Ga.) brought in the team's lone
RBI.
After a scoreless opening frame, Liberty picked up a run in the
next three innings before PC answered with a score of its own in the top of the
fifth.
Tyler Hill (Goose Creek, S.C.) drew a walk and moved to second
on a groundout, setting up Williams to bring him home thanks to the sophomore's
RBI single to right field.
The score cut Liberty's lead to 3-1.
Unfortunately for the Blue Hose, the Flames used four hits—including
a solo home run—and two PC errors to post four runs in the sixth inning and
extend the score to the eventual final result, 7-1.
Justin Richardson led Liberty with a pair of solo home runs.
Steven Evans earned the win for the Flames, allowing six hits and one run over
seven innings.
Game Two
PC looked to turn the tide in game two but the Flames held off PC to win, 5-2.
Three members of the Blue Hose posted two hits in the series
finale and Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill, S.C.) picked up his 37th RBI of
the season.
Jordan Pace (Charleston, S.C.) gave up only two earned runs
saw his record move to 2-5 on the year.
The Blue Hose returned a Liberty first-inning run with one
of their one in the top of the second to pull even, 1-1.
Nate Horton (Spartanburg, S.C.) began the frame by singling
to center field and moving over on a Mack Hite (Abbeville, S.C.) sacrifice
bunt. A hit-by-pitch and a fielding error packed the bases full of Blue Hose
for Zebedis, who drew a walk to bring home Horton and tie the game, 1-1. PC
could not find another run as the inning ended by the same score.
Liberty answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning
and another in the third to jump to a 5-1 lead.
The Blue Hose cut the lead by one, however, grabbing a run
in the fifth to make the score 5-2.
Zebedis laced a single through the middle to put on one and
Tony Micklon (Sumter, S.C.) then reached on fieldling error to send Zebedis to
second.
Kenny Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C.) beat out a bunt to first
base to hit safely and load the bases again for PC. In the next at bat, Hill hit into a 6-4-3 double play but the chance allowed
Zebedis to cross the plate and bring the Blue Hose within three, 5-2.
PC kept Liberty off of the scoreboard for the rest of the
game but could not find any more runs of its own as the Blue Hose fell, 5-2.
Liberty starting pitcher Keegan Linza received the win for
his five and one-third innings outing and Garrett Baker secured the save,
entering in the sixth and finishing out the contest.
