The High Point baseball team scored four runs in the ninth inning but it wasn't enough as Liberty grabbed a 7-5 victory on Friday afternoon in the Big South series opener between the two squads.

The Panthers (11-14, 0-1 Big South) trailed 6-0 after four innings but clawed their way back into the game and had a chance to earn the win with the tying run at the plate in their final at-bat. Liberty (16-8, 3-1) got an early advantage and rode a solid pitching outing by starter Michael Solbach.

"I thought we made a valiant effort in the ninth inning," said HPU head coach Sal Bando, Jr. "There was no quit in our guys and they showed some character and tenacity. We knew we had our hands full before the game even started with (Michael) Solbach. The way he pitched proved that because he was tough. We just didn't pitch well enough to beat their best guy, because pitching just as good is the best defense against a team's best guy."

Liberty struck first scoring a run in the second inning. Derek Bennion led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice attempt by David Giammaresi, who reached first after a throwing error by HPU. Errol Hollinger grounded into a double-play but was able to push the run across the plate.

High Point had scoring chances in both of the first two innings leaving runners in scoring position in each frame.

The Flames added a pair of runs in the third and then tacked on three more runs in the fourth to take a 6-0 advantage.

HPU got their first run in the fifth to make the score 6-1. Robby Kuzdale got a two-out single and moved to second on a passed ball. Jeff Cowan followed with an RBI single to right field. Liberty added an insurance run in the eighth inning after a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt got runners to second and third. The next batter struckout, but a wild pitch allowed the runner at third to score upping the tally to 7-1.

The Panthers opened the bottom of the ninth with a single by J. Williams followed by a homerun from Randy Schwartz to trim the deficit to 7-3. The homer was the fourth of the year for Schwartz. Liberty brought in their closer, Tim John, who was greeted by back-to-back singles from Pablo Rosario and Alfie Wheeler. Kuzdale grounded out to third but was able to move the runners up a base. Cowan singled up the middle plating a pair of runs to make the score 7-5. John induced a groundout and flyout to end the HPU rally and secure the win.

Both squads finished with 11 hits on the day. Jeff Cowan led the Panthers with three hits and three RBIs. Phil John and Giammaresi each tallied three hits with John driving in a game-high four runs.

Solbach (5-1), one of the league's top pitchers this season, picked up the victory after allowing just one unearned run on five hits in six innings of work. Liberty relievers Andrew Wilson and John both surrendered a pair of runs.

Bubba O'Donnell (2-3) struckout out seven but gave up nine hits and six runs in 5.1 innings of work in the loss.

High Point and Liberty continue their weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Coy O. Williard, Sr. Stadium.