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With seven runs in the ninth inning Liberty rallied past the High Point University baseball team for a 14-9 win Sunday at Williard Stadium. The Panthers took a four-run lead in to the seventh inning but the bullpen struggled to finish the game, allowing nine runs in the final three innings.

“First, this was a great day to honor a High Point legend in Otis Foster,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “It was a tremendous ceremony and we are very proud to have retired his number. I was proud that the team responded well in the second inning when we were down early but we weren't able to protect it. The bullpen didn't get the job done today and as a result were couldn't hold on to the 9-5 lead.”

The Panthers honored Foster in a ceremony before the game, retiring his No. 18 jersey. Foster was drafted in the first round of the 1975 MLB Draft and is the only Panther to have been drafted in the first inning.

Spencer Andrews had pitched four hitless innings of relief before giving up an RBI double to Matt Williams in the seventh inning, cutting High Point's lead to 9-6. The Flames added one run in the eighth inning of senior reliever Mikel Rodenberg and looked to do more damage but Steve Antolik threw Ian Parmley out at home to end the threat with High Point ahead 9-7.

The Flames took over the game in the ninth inning, scoring seven runs to win the game 14-9. Rodenberg gave up two before he was taken out of the game. Ryan Retz moved from center field to the mound but also couldn't get out of the inning, allowing five runs, three earned, to Liberty. Austin Taylor came up with the RBI double to tie the game and the Flames took the lead when Taylor scored on an error by HPU shortstop Preston Packrall.

Retz took the loss, his second of the season.

After senior Mike Caldwell gave up four runs to the Flames in the second inning, HPU responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-4 lead. With the bases loaded Packrall singled to right field to drive in a run and keep the bases loaded. Mike Mercurio picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch and Drew Geissinger drove in two more with a double down the left field line. Scott Glover and Antolik picked up the final two RBI of the inning and knocked Liberty starter Steven Evans from the game.

Andrews relieved Caldwell in the third inning with one run in and a runner on first. Andrews shut down the Flames offense, keeping them hitless for four innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Packrall picked up another RBI in the third inning with a single up the middle to score Zach Tessier who led off the inning with a double to right center. The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning. Glover doubled to right field, scoring Antolik and Kyle Mahoney drove in Glover with a sacrifice fly.

Geissinger finished the game 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored and Tessier was 1-2 with two hit by pitches and a walk.

Mark Swanson pitched 3-1/3 innings of relief for Liberty to pick up his first win of the season.

HPU (17-18, 4-8 Big South) will have four days off before traveling to UNC Asheville for a Big South series on Friday.