Justin Richardson drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs for Liberty as the visitors rallied for a 9-8 victory over High Point Friday night at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.

Kyle Mahoney gave High Point (5-11, 1-4) an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when he drove the pitch over the rightfield wall for his second homerun of the season.

The lead would hold up until the fourth inning when Liberty (13—5, 2-1) scored five runs with some assistance from defensive miscues by HPU.  Back-to-back singles and a RBI double put the Flames on the board with runners at second and third.  Following a walk, Joseph Feeley hit a sacrifice fly plating Errol Hollinger.  Kizuku Scott was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Matt Williams would reach on an error allowing another run to score.  Curran Redal singled, but the ball hit Williams so no runners were allowed to advance a base.  Doug Bream would reach on the second HPU error plating Trey Wimmer and Scott giving Liberty a 5-1 advantage.  They would tack on two more runs in the sixth when Spencer Andrews was running in to make the catch, but slipped as he approached the ball, allowing Williams and Feeley to score.

High Point roared back in the sixth inning posting seven runs to seize an 8-7 advantage.  Jeff Cowan opened the frame with a single. With two outs, Murray White IV drew a walk before Max Fulginiti singled in Cowan.  Two more RBI singles by Billy Alvino and Rob Gilles plated White and Fulginiti.  Spencer Andrews was then hit by a pitch loading the bases.  Alfie Wheeler drew a walk forcing in Alvino.  Cowan got his second hit of the inning, a game-tying two-run single to left field scoring pinch-runner Spenser Atwood and Andrews.  Bill Manion was then hit by a pitch to load the bases in front of Mahoney, who drew a walk that brought in Wheeler for the go-ahead run.

Liberty responded in the top of the seventh when Hollinger flicked his bat on a two-strike pitch barely out of the reach of a charging Manion.  T. Bream would reach on a catcher's interference call, also with two strikes.  After a foul out, Richardson doubled to left-centerfield plating Hollinger to knot the game at eight apiece. Richardson would strike again in the top of the ninth with an RBI double down the rightfield line scoring Wimmer for the game-winning run.

High Point attempted another comeback in the ninth inning. Mahoney would get a one-out single off the glove of the diving Liberty second baseman.  White IV drove a pitch to the warning track in right-centerfield, but it was chased down by the Flames.  Fulginiti then singled to the shortstop and Mahoney took third as the ball scooted away from Williams.  Andrew Wilson would then induce a game-ending groundout by Alvino to secure the win for Liberty.

Cowan, Mahoney, Fulginiti and Alvino all had two hits on the night for High Point.  Six different Panthers would drive in a run while eight different players scored on the night.  RJ Chlebnikow worked six innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and picked up two strikeouts.  Jeremy Berg dropped his record to 1-1 allowing two runs (one earned) in three innings of work.

Liberty was lead by D. Bream, Hollinger and Richardson who had two, three and two hits, respectively.  Wilson picked up his third win of the season, working 3.1 innings of scoreless relief.

The two squads will play game two of their series on Saturday night at Williard Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.