**Tribe 9, LIBERTY 7**
For most collegiate players, a two-game hitless streak is nothing to get upset about. However, when the player in question ranks among the most efficient hitters in the nation, even a minor blip in production can cause a bit of concern.
p. After posting a slight .238 batting average over his last five games, junior first baseman Mike Sheridan blasted out of his brief slump Tuesday night, powering the Tribe to a 9-7 defeat of Liberty University. Utilizing two timely home runs, Sheridan’s two for three effort capped a back-and-forth game which saw the College extend its winning streak to three games.
p. After Sheridan launched a two-run first inning homer to give the Tribe an early lead, sophomore starting pitcher Cody Winslow struggled, allowing a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame, followed by three more an inning later as Liberty built a 5-4 advantage. The teams again traded a pair of runs in the fifth inning, before Sheridan put his squad back on top, driving a seventh-inning pitch over the left field fence for another two-run homer to give the College an 8-6 lead.
p. With Winslow exiting after four and two-third innings, Head Coach Frank Leoni called on his bullpen to hold the narrow margin, and the unit performed impressively for the third straight contest. Sophomore Tyler Truxell and seniors Sean Grieve and Pat Kantakevich combined to post four and one-third strong innings, yielding just a single run to preserve the victory.
p. The win was an important one for the Tribe as the squad picked up yet another comeback victory despite the early deficit.
“I think our guys are accustomed to playing in these types of games,” Leoni said. “Our mindset is to keep fighting until the final out.”