LYNCHBURG, VA -- The Liberty baseball team was defeated by the Elon Phoenix, 11-7, in the first game of a three-game series at Worthington Stadium on Friday.
Elon's Whit Bryant, who was the winning pitcher for the Phoenix (21-6, 4-0 BSC), brought in the first two runs of the game with a two-run home run in the top of the first. The home run was set up when Brian Ingram reached on an error, the first of seven in the game for the Flames.
Liberty (13-14-1, 1-6 BSC) cut the lead to one with a run in the bottom of the third. Steve Baker grounded out to shortstop, scoring Larry Wayne York to make the score 2-1.
The game stayed at 2-1 until the top of the fifth when the Phoenix broke the game open with seven runs to increase their lead to 9-1. Ingram, Bryant, Morgan Frazier and Ross Cook drove in the runs for the Phoenix as they opened up an eight-run lead.
Liberty scored a run in the sixth and Elon added a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings to make the score 11-2 going into the ninth.
In the ninth, the Flames plated five runs to cut the lead to 11-7 but would get no closer. York drove in the first run with a single to right field and Baker drove in the next three with a bases-clearing triples. Marcus Maringola drove in the game's final run with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Baker.
York went 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead Liberty at the plate and extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Baker was 1-for-5 with a triple and four RBI. Nat Ogborne pitched 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits to take the loss for the Flames and drop his record to 0-2 on the season.
Bryant was 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI and pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits for the Phoenix. The win gives Bryant 20 for his Elon career, the 10th Elon pitcher to reach the 20 win plateau. Jim Swenson was 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Phoenix.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday for a doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Worthington Stadium.
Game Box Score
--100 YEARS OF ELON BASEBALL--
