Bucs Take Game Two; Split With Liberty

Wes Brundridge

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Buccaneers took an early lead and held off Liberty to win game two 6-4 after falling 4-2 in the first game of the twin-bill.

The Bucs have now won at least one game in each of the last two Big South series, and will go for their first series victory on Saturday or Sunday, depending on weather in the Lynchburg area. CSU moves to 15-26 overall and 2-9 in the Big South, while Liberty goes to 22-15 and 4-4.

After a scoreless first three innings, Charleston Southern took advantage of two Liberty errors to take a 1-0 advantage in the fourth. Anthony Hayes singled with one out and moved to second on a fielding miscue by the Flames’ shortstop on a grounder by Justin Fyle. David Perkins lined a single to left to load the bases with one out, and the Buccaneers tallied the first run of the day, when a bouncer by Sean Doherty was mishandled. However, Liberty starter Dustin Umberger was able to avert further trouble as he struck out the next hitter and induced the final batter of the inning to pop out with the bases full.

In the top half of the eighth, Stephen Herzog singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a bunt. After Herzog stole third, Perkins dropped a single into right field to bring him home to tie score at 2-2. Tim John (Sr., RHP, Linwood, N.J.) was then summoned from the bullpen and struck out the next two hitters to keep the game deadlocked going into the decisive bottom of the inning.

A two-run double in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference though as CSU dropped game one 4-2.

Herzog and Hayes each had two hits in the first game for CSU.

Game One Box

Sean Doherty and Will Rodriguez led off the second inning of game two with a single each. A sacrifice bunt by Chris Krogmeier moved the runners into scoring position. Looking to put the ball in play, Adam Brown dropped down a base hit bunt, scoring Doherty to put CSU up early. A Wes Brundridge single and Stephen Herzog double scored two more runs in the inning to put CSU up 3-0.

The Flames would add two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 3-2, but CSU got out of the inning with a couple of infield outs, preserving the lead.

The Bucs would add another three-spot on the board in the fourth to add to their lead. A couple of doubles by Brundridge and Justin Fyle, paired with a single by David Perkins and a defensive miscue by the Flames put CSU up 6-2.

That lead would hold until the eighth inning, when Liberty would score twice. It would be all they got as CSU held on for the 6-4 victory in the night-cap.

Fyle and Brundridge each had three hits as the Bucs out-hit Liberty 15-12.

Game Two Box