April 24, 2013
NORFOLK, VA--The Liberty Flames (23-20) scored 12 runs in the first two innings and belted four home runs to defeat the Monarchs (21-20) Wednesday afternoon, 17-10 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Liberty firstbasmen Alex Close knocked in six runs with a grand slam homer in the first inning and a two-run hit in the second. Thirdbaseman Sammy Taormina led the Flames 21-hit attack with four hits, while designated hitter Danny Grauer knocked in four runs. Seven Liberty hitters had two or more hits today.
The Monarchs pounded out 15 hits of their own led by freshman secondbaseman Ben Verlander (Maidens, VA.) with four hits each. Verlander and sophomore leftfielder Josh Eldridge (Lorton, VA.) each knocked in two runs for ODU. Junior shortstop Tyler Urps (Wilton, CA.) joined Eldridge with two hits on the day.
Higgins scored three of the Monarch runs, while Jordan Negrini (Kilhei, Hawaii) and Urps both crossed home plate twice each.
Verlander is now hitting .394 with 33 RBI,while Eldridge is at .301 with a teambest 38 RBI. Higgins upped his average to .364.
The Monarchs return to CAA play this weekend in Newark, DE. Against the University of Delaware beginning Friday at 3 p.m.
LU 660 100 211 =17-21-2ODU 002 310 004= 10-15-1
LU - Gray,Bankemper(3), Grauer(6 ), Mauldin(9) and WimmerODU - Harris, Diaz(2), Smith(4), Ney(7), Moynihan(8), Jessee(9) and Perez
HR: LU- Perritt (3), Grauer(5), Close(1), Maormina(1)WP: Bankemper (1-0), LP: Harris (0-1)