Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
WILMINGTON, N.C. –
Michael Bottoms allowed just two runs in 6.2 innings and Morehead State got a two-run homer from #J.D. Ashbrook#, but Liberty scored four late-inning runs to claim a 5-2 victory over Morehead State Friday afternoon in the first game of the Hughes Brothers Baseball Challenge in Wilmington, N.C.
Liberty plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Nathan Thompson doubled down the left field line, Matt Williams singled, and P.J. Jimenez was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Curran Redal then lined out to Ashbrook in center and Thompson tagged and scored. Williams was thrown out trying to take third on the play to end the inning.
After reliever Carter Browning got the first two outs of the seventh,
Travis Redmon reached on an error by Williams. Ashbrook then connected with a Browning offering, lacing a line drive that cleared the wall in left. It was the second home run of the season for Ashbrook.
The Flames took back the lead with a three-run seventh. Thompson took Bottoms deep to left, his third hit of the game and second long ball of the season. The shot also chased Bottoms from the game. Liberty went on to get RBI singles from Redal and Tyler Bream in the inning to take a 4-2 lead after seven.
Liberty got an insurance run in the eighth. Kenneth Negron was plunked by
Matthew Robertson and then stole second. Negron then scored on a seeing eye single to left from Williams.
MSU tried to rally in the top of the ninth when Redmon walked and Ashbrook singled to left with two outs, but Cameron Flynn grounded out to second ending the rally and the game.
The Eagles threatened multiple times in the game but couldn’t find the hits needed to drive in the runs. MSU loaded the bases in the fourth, and had runners in scoring position in three other innings. However the Eagles hit just 1-6 with runners in scoring position.
MSU is now 2-4 on the season and plays its first of two games tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. against the host Seahawks of UNC Wilmington.
