April 2, 2011

Final Stats

CONWAY - After a shaky start, walking the first four batters of the game, Coastal Carolina rallied to hit three home runs and Daniel Bowman's sacrifice fly in the ninth propelled the Chanticleers (17-10, 3-2 Big South) to a 5-4 victory over Liberty (15-13, 5-3 Big South) on Saturday afternoon at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field before a national ESPNU audience.

Bowman, who tied a career-high with six RBI Friday, was 1-for-4 Saturday with a solo home run to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth and, with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, hit a fly ball deep to center field that scored Jacob May for the game winner.

In the top of the ninth, Liberty lead-off hitter Ian Parmley laid down a perfect bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt, Matt Williams hit a line drive to left, which was caught by a diving May. Matt Rein (3-1), who had entered the game in the fourth inning, convinced head coach Gary Gilmore to face one final batter. The sales job worked as Rein struck out Doug Bream. Rein scattered five hits, allowing no runs and no walks, with four strike outs to earn the win.

In the bottom of the ninth, May matched Parmley's effort with a lead-off bunt single. Scott Woodward was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, Tommy La Stella was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Bowman's heroics.

As mentioned, Coastal starter Jim Birmingham walked the first four batters of the game, the last going as an RBI for D. Bream. Ryan Connolly came out of the bullpen with the bases still loaded and Tyler Bream hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Michael Robertson was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, however, Connolly recorded back-to-back strike outs to limit the damage and keep the score 2-0.

Connolly would pitch three innings, allowing two hits and two runs (both in part to two batters Connolly hit) with no walks and three strike outs.

In the home half of the first, Woodward had a lead-off double and, after an out, La Stella tied the game with an opposite field, two-run home run. The blast was La Stella's sixth of the season.

In the top of the third, D. Bream was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to second on a ground out. After a fly out, pinch hitter Marcus Grimaldi delivered an RBI single to right, putting the Flames up 3-2. Another lead-off hit batter in the fourth led to a run for Liberty. Zach Haley was hit, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Matt Williams' RBI single to right field.

Coastal trimmed its deficit to one, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth as lead off hitter Taylor Motter hit the first pitch he saw over the left-center field wall, his second home run in as many days. Then, to start the sixth, Bowman tied the game at 4-4- when he smashed a solo home run over the left-center field wall, his fifth of the season and, like Motter, his second in as many days.

La Stella, Motter and Keith Hardwick each had two hits for Coastal, while La Stella and Bowman each had two RBI. For Liberty, Parmley and Grimaldi each had two hits. John Niggli started but did not figure in the decision, allowing seven hits, four runs and one walk over 5.2 innings with a strikeout. Garrett Baker (3-1) suffered his first loss, pitching 2.2 innings in relief and allowing three hits - one of which was the bunt single by May in the ninth - and one run with a walk and three strike outs.

Coastal Carolina and Liberty will play the third and final game of the weekend series Sunday with first pitch set for 2 pm.