In the wake of the recent rainout at Western Carolina, the Diamond Dogs arranged a game against the Flames for Monday afternoon. The visitors fought hard, but the Classic City Canines proved superior, as they gave us Liberty and we gave them depth.

Taylor Hicks drew the starting assignment, and his afternoon got off to a rocky beginning when a pair of one-out singles, a sacrifice fly, and a couple of wild pitches permitted the Flames to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first frame. For this the Red and Black had no adequate answer before the third inning.

It was at that juncture that third baseman Curt Powell dropped a leadoff single into center field. Subsequent one-out base hits by second baseman Nelson Ward, shortstop Kyle Farmer, and first baseman Colby May tied the game, after which a groundout to short by designated hitter Jared Walsh plated the go-ahead run. Georgia added to its advantage in the fourth frame, when Powell’s two-out single and stolen base set the stage for center fielder Peter Verdin to drive in an insurance run with a base hit.

Liberty tightened the score with a leadoff single, a one-out double, and an RBI base hit in the top of the sixth stanza, but the Bulldogs had a retort at the ready in the home half of the canto, as left fielder Justin Bryan opened the proceedings with a solo home run. There the scoring ended.

Despite boasting a student conduct code that almost assuredly deems composite bats at least a venial sin, Liberty managed to out-hit Georgia, 11-9. At the bottom of the order, Powell went two for four, while the Bulldog bullpen conceded only one earned run in seven innings.

Go ‘Dawgs!

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