Story Links
Feb. 23, 2000
LYNCHBURG, Va. – With the Flames trailing, 3-1, in the sixth inning, Liberty’s Jim Clinton (Sr., 1B, DuBois, Pa.) hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Flames a 4-3 lead and eventual, 6-5, win today at Worthington Stadium.
Virginia scored in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Michael Floyd (So., CF, Severna Park, Md.) tying the ballgame at four apiece before Trey Miller (Jr., LF, El Cajon, Calif.) hit a solo home run to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Flames a 5-4 advantage. Keith Butler (Fr., CF, Marietta, Ga.) singled, then was advanced to third on a walk by Scottie Scott (Lynchburg, Va.) and a fly ball by Clinton. With the bases loaded, Steve Baker (So., RF, Rome, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly to shallow center field scoring Butler from third base for the eventual game-winning run.
Virginia’s John Benick (Jr., 1B, Glen Lyon, Pa.) hit a solo home run in the top of the Cavalier ninth to pull the Cavaliers within one. Flame reliever, Kurt Reese (So., RHP, Hayden Lake, Idaho) retired the final two Virginia batters, preserving the win and picking up his first save of the season.
Rich Harrell (So., RHP, Weaverville, N.C.), got his second win of the season in relief, pitching one and one-third innings in the seventh and eighth innings. Virginia’s starting pitcher, Brandon Cresswell (Jr., LHP, Newport News, Va.) suffered the loss pitching seven innings of work and giving up nine hits while striking out five.
Liberty improves to 2-2 on the season, while Virginia falls to 0-5-1. The Flames and the Cavaliers will face-off again Friday, Feb. 25th at 3:00 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va.