By: Matteen Zibanejadrad
LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Kennesaw State baseball team came close to completing the four-run comeback, but fell short as the Liberty Flames clinched the 6-5 win Saturday afternoon in the Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The Flames (32-11, 16-1) started the scoring off again with four unanswered runs, but the Owls (26-16, 12-5) made matters difficult for Liberty in the second half of the game.
In the fourth inning, Alex Carballo made it a 4-1 game with a double down the right-field line to easily score speedster Jesse Sherrill from second base.
The center fielder would bring Sherrill over home plate again with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning.
Anthony Rodriguez pitched tremendously, throwing three innings of two-hit ball with one unearned run given up in his relief of starter Luke Torbert.
It was a 6-2 scoreline in favor of the Flames when KSU powerhouse Terence Norman came up to bat with two runners on. The right fielder stroked a dart that his Liberty counterpart could not field with a diving catch, facilitating a two-run triple for Norman. Malik Spratling was the next batter up, pinch hitting for Garrett Hodges. The junior transfer from Georgia Highlands College slapped a pitch through the right side to plate Norman effortlessly, cutting the Owls' deficit to 6-5.
Sherrill tried to extend the game with an infield single in KSU's ninth inning frame, but umpire replay found the second baseman out with a close play at first for the final out of the game.
The Owls have one more chance to leave Lynchburg, Va. with a win, as they close out the first of two straight series against the Flames Sunday at 1 p.m.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
