The Liberty County baseball team fell to Region 2A-AAAA foe Brunswick, 7-2, on Wednesday night at home. The game originally was scheduled for Tuesday, but rain forced postponement.
Brunswick singled to open the game and got another runner aboard off of an error. The Pirates scored their first run off of a sacrifice fly. Liberty pitcher Antonio Smith struck out one for the second out. The Panthers thought they ended the first inning with a groundout, but Brunswick appealed and the runner was awarded first base. The runner on third gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead.
Liberty’s offense was stalled in the bottom of the first inning, getting only one runner aboard off of a walk.
The Panthers sat Brunswick down in order in the top of the second. Smith struck out two and got a groundout.
Trey Sikes had a double to the left-field gap, but the Panthers could not advance him around in the bottom of the second inning.
The third inning was not productive for either team. Despite getting a walk and a batter hit by a pitch with no outs, Liberty could not manufacture any runs.
Brunswick added two more runs off of three base hits, a walk and an error in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Sikes led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit, and another Liberty batter reached base after being hit by a pitch. Matt Desbiens put down a sacrifice bunt and was able to reach first base on an error. The Panthers had the bases loaded, but the Pirates retired the next three hitters in order.
Brunswick entered the top of the fifth leading 4-0 and added two more runs off of a pair of doubles. The Panthers’ Cameron Harris relieved Smith and struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a two-RBI double. Sikes came on to work the rest of the inning, getting a groundout and fanning a Pirate looking for the final out.
The Pirates added its final run in the top of the sixth inning off of three base hits and an RBI single.
Liberty scored its first run on a solo shot from Desbiens with one out. Joe Watkins added another solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Smith worked four innings on the mound, striking out three and giving up six hits and three earned runs.
Sikes gave up one unearned run, one hit and struck out a Brunswick batter in 2 2⁄3 innings.
Sikes finished the game 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and a single. Watkins was 1 for 4 with a solo home run. Desbiens was 1 for 2 with a home run.
Liberty falls to 4-9 overall and 1-6 in Region 2A-AAAA.
The Panthers travel to AAAA South Georgia power Wayne County today.