Liberty University
22-19
South Carolina
32-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 10 | 1 |
Cordell Hits 2 Home Runs, Flames Fall to No. 2 South Carolina
4/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Liberty outfielder Ryan Cordell hit two home runs, as the Flames were defeated by the No. 2-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, 9-6, Tuesday afternoon at Carolina Stadium.
Liberty falls to 22-19 on the year, while South Carolina moves to 32-8. The non-conference contest marked the return of Liberty head coach Jim Toman to South Carolina. Before taking over the reins of the Flames program in 2008, Toman spent 11 years on Gamecocks head coach Ray Tanner's staff.
Cordell becomes the third Liberty player to hit two home runs in a contest this season. As the first two hits of his collegiate career, the outfielder hit round trippers in the fourth and eight innings. Teammate Justin Richardson hit two home runs as the Flames' designated hitter in a 7-1 victory over Presbyterian College during the first game of a doubleheader, April 17 at Worthington Stadium. Catcher Jeff Jefferson also hit two home runs in an 8-6 win at VMI in game one of a doubleheader this past Saturday.
South Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Catcher Brady Thomas reached on a fielding error by Liberty shortstop Matt Williams to open the frame and two batters later, moved to second base on an infield single by Adrian Morales. Shortstop Peter Mooney followed by singling sharply to right field, plating Thomas with the game's first run. The next batter, Robert Beary, then lined a double to the deepest part of the park, center field, scoring Morales.
In the top of the third inning, Liberty threatened against Gamecock starter Adam Westmoreland. With two out, right fielder Michael Robertson dropped a single into center field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Williams followed with an infield single to put Flames at the corners. However, Westmoreland was able to end the threat by striking out the next batter.
After allowing runs in the second, Flames starter Garrett Baker settled in and retired nine consecutive batters until an error by third baseman Tyler Bream in the fifth inning. The left-hander set down South Carolina in order in both the third and fourth frames.
Meanwhile, Liberty got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Cordell ripped his first home run of the game into the lower level seats in left field. The two-out blast cut the South Carolina edge to 2-1.
The Flames tied the game in the fifth inning. With one out, center fielder Ian Parmley went the opposite way, lining a single to left field. After Parmley stole second base, Robertson followed with a single back through the middle of the infield and into center field, cashing in the runner and knotting the score at 2-2.
After being held scoreless for three innings by Baker, the Gamecocks broke through with seven runs on seven hits in the sixth to go back in front for good. South Carolina sent 12 men to the plate in the frame. First baseman Christian Walker led off the inning with his ninth home run of the season into the Liberty bullpen in left-center field to give South Carolina a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Gamecock left fielder Jake Williams tripled to right field. Morales followed with a single to center field for a 4-2 advantage.
Later in the inning, pinch hitter Michael Roth drove in two more with a bases-loaded single, second baseman Scott Wingo plated a run with a single and Walker had a run-scoring single, upping South Carolina's lead to 8-2. Thomas added the final run of the uprising with a sacrifice fly for a 9-2 Gamecock advantage.
In the seventh, Liberty plated two runs. Second baseman Zack Haley was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to second on a single to right field by Robertson. The next batter, Matt Williams, was walked, loading the bases with Flames. Two batters later, Bream lined a single into center field, plating two runs to make it, 9-4.
Leading off the eighth, Cordell ripped his second home run of the game into the Liberty bullpen in left-center field, cutting the South Carolina edge to 9-5. Two batters later, Haley was hit by a pitch for the second straight inning.
After a 53-minute lightning delay, Haley moved to second on an infield single by Parmley and advanced to third base on an errant throw by Walker in an attempt to get the hitter at first base. Robertson followed with a RBI grounder, trimming the home team's lead to the final score of 9-6.
Baker drops to 5-3 on the year. The senior gave up six runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Liberty used five pitchers in the contest.
Right-handed reliever Jose Matta, the second Gamecock pitcher of the game, improves to 3-0. He gave up two runs on one hit, striking out one and walking one. Matt Price pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 12th save. South Carolina had six pitchers take the mound in the game.
Liberty totaled 10 hits in the contest. Parmley and Robertson each had three hits for the Flames. South Carolina had 10 hits in the game. Walker, Morales and Mooney had two hits apiece for the Gamecocks.
The Flames return home to Worthington Stadium to host the Liberty Tournament, Friday through Sunday. The tournament gets underway Friday at 1 p.m. with the New Orleans Privateers squaring off with the Le Moyne Dolphins. Liberty will meet Le Moyne Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jose Mata (3-0)
L: Baker, Garrett (5-3)
S: Matt Price (12)
Batting:
HR: Cordell, Ryan 2
RBI: Robertson, Michael 2 ; Bream, Tyler 2 ; Cordell, Ryan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Parmley, Ian 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1 ; Cordell, Ryan 2 ; Haley, Zack 2
SB: Parmley, Ian 2 ; Robertson, Michael 1 ; Williams, Matt 1
HBP: Haley, Zack 2
Batting:
2B: Robert Beary 1
3B: Jake Williams 1
HR: Christian Walker 1
RBI: Scott Wingo 1 ; Christian Walker 2 ; Brady Thomas 1 ; Adrian Morales 1 ; Peter Mooney 1 ; Robert Beary 1 ; Michael Roth 2
SF: Brady Thomas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeSean Anderson 1 ; Christian Walker 1 ; Brady Thomas 1 ; Jake Williams 1 ; Adrian Morales 2 ; Peter Mooney 1 ; Robert Beary 1 ; Michael Roth 1
