March 23, 2000

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Jim Clinton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a two-RBI double to lead the Flames over 22nd-ranked Wake Forest today at Worthington Stadium. Jason Suit pitched seven and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs and three walks while striking out four earning his second win in as many starts.

Liberty's Joey Monahan led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field and later scored on a single up the middle by Keith Butler giving the Flames the early lead. Wake Forest got on the board in the top of the third inning when Carlos Brackley led off the inning with a double and was scored by Ricky Mendez on a single to left field. The Flames responded in the bottom of the third when Butler reached first on an error by Demon Deacon third baseman Cory Slavik and Clinton hit his fourth home run of the season over the left-center field wall giving the Flames a 3-1 lead.

Wake Forest came back to tie the ballgame at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning on Dan Conway's two-RBI double to left field, scoring Danny Borrell and Slavik. The Flames' John Bona was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth for Liberty. Larry York single with one out, setting up Clinton's two-RBI double to left-center field. Steve Baker doubled to bring in Clinton from second to give the Flames a 6-4 lead. Trey Miller led of the sixth for the Flames with a double down the left-field line then was sacrificed to third by pinch hitter Jay Sullenger before scoring when Butler reached on an error by Wake Forest's second baseman Jason Aquilante.

The Flames held a 7-4 lead going into the top of the ninth when Liberty relief pitcher Dan Valentin walked pinch hitters Ryan Johnson and Stephen Sullivan to start the inning. Josh Brey came in relief for the Flames and got pinch hitter Ryan Braun to ground into a 6-4-3 double play for the first two outs of the inning. Cory Sullivan singled to left field to score Johnson from third base and then was thrown out from right field, trying to take second after right fielder Steve Baker bobbled the ball ending the game.

The Flames improve to 16-8 overall and Wake Forest falls to 18-8 on the season. Wake Forest starting pitcher Borrell suffered the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season. Josh Brey earned his second save in as many days and his fifth of the season. The Flames will host Brown on Monday, March 27th starting at 3:00 p.m. Wake Forest travels to Charlottesville, Va. to face Virginia for a three-game conference series starting Friday, March 24th at 3:00 p.m.