Flames Take Slugfest, 15-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Temple	0	6	0	1	0	1	0	1	2	11	18	2
LIBERTY	1	0	4	0	5	0	1	4	X	15	15	2

Temple

LIBERTY

The Liberty Flames erased a 6-1 deficit, posting a four-run third inning and a five-run fifth inning, to roll to a 15-11, slugfest victory over the Temple Owls, Sunday in the finale of a four-game series at Worthington Stadium.

With the win, Liberty sweeps the four-game weekend series from Temple, running its record to 7-3 on the year. The visiting Owls drop to 2-6 on the season.

The host Flames took a short-lived 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the opening inning. With two outs, left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.) lined a double into the left corner, and scored when right fielder Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) followed with a RBI single.

Temple countered in its next at bat, with six runs on seven hits. Third baseman Tony Jusino and shortstop Mark Ortega opened the top of the second inning with back-to-back singles, and advance into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Jamie Abercrombie. After the next batter lined out, first baseman Ben Flannery singled up the middle, plating both runners for a 2-1 Owl lead.

Center fielder Bryon McCoy followed with a run-scoring single for Temple's third run of the frame. Second baseman Carmen Del Mastro then made it 5-1 Owls, with a home run over the right field wall, his first of the year. Right fielder Sean Barksdale continued the two-out outburst with a double and scored on a double by catcher Kyle Obal for a 6-1 lead.

In the bottom half of the third inning, Liberty sent all nine batters in the line-up to the plate, scoring four runs. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) led off the frame with a walk, and advanced to second on a ground out by center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.). Jefferson singled and Doug Bream walked, loading the bases with Flames.

Liberty pushed its first run of the uprising across the plate, when designated hitter Cody Brown (Sr., Cumming, Ga.) was hit by a pitch. The next batter, catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.), received a walk, forcing in the second run of the frame, to trim the Flames' deficit to 6-3. After a RBI fielder's choice ground out by third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.), first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.) ripped a single up the middle to chase home the fourth run of the inning, cutting the Temple lead to one run, 6-5.

The Owls added to their advantage in the fourth frame with a single run. McKoy began the inning by being hit by a pitch, and later came around to make it, 7-5 Owls, on a single by Barksdale.

Liberty took over the lead for good in the fifth inning. The Flames batted around for the second time in the contest, scoring five runs on four hits and two Temple errors. Brown began the uprising with a single and moved to second, when Tyler Bream walked. Wimmer then hit a slow roller to the shortstop, Del Mastro, which the Flames' first baseman beat out for an infield single. When Del Mastro overthrew first on an attempt to get Wimmer, Brown scored the first run of the frame.

After the second out of the inning, Williams hit a high fly ball into right field, which was dropped by the Owl's Barksdale, allowing Tyler Bream and Wimmer to score for an 8-7 Liberty lead. The next batter, Redal, promptly cashed in Williams with a double to extend the Flames' edge to 9-7. Two batters later, Doug Bream banged a single through the middle to plate Redal, giving Liberty a 10-7 advantage.

Temple took advantage of a Flames error in the sixth to slice the Liberty lead to 10-8. McKoy doubled, and scored on an error by Williams.

In the seventh inning, the Owls threatened, loading the bases with no outs. However, Flames right-hander Austin Poretz (Fr., Lothian, Md.) was summoned from the bullpen, and put down the threat. The freshman hurler struck out the first hitter he faced and then, induced the following Temple hitter to line into a double play to end the inning.

Liberty upped its lead to 11-8 in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Joseph Feeley (So., Chesapeake City, Md.), while Temple closed the gap again between the two teams in the top of the eighth. Barksdale cut the Flames' lead to 11-9, with his first home run of the year.

Liberty put the game out of the reach with four runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Tyler Bream opened the scoring in the frame by driving in Brown with a double, and scored when Wimmer followed with a single back through the middle. P.J. Jimenez (Jr., Yucaipa, Calif.), who entered the game at second base in the top of the sixth inning, hit his first home run in a Liberty uniform over the right field wall, upping the Flames advantage to 15-9.

In the ninth, Temple added a two runs on Ortega's second home run of the year for the final score of 15-11, in favor of Liberty.

Carter Browning (Jr., Ada, Okla.), who entered in relief for the Flames in the second inning, picks up his first win in a Liberty uniform to move to 1-0 on the season. The right-hander gave up two runs, one earned, on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Portez records his first collegiate save by pitching the final three innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits during his relief appearance.

Owl relief Tyler Horst, the third of five Temple pitchers to take the mound in the contest, takes the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year. Horst yielded five runs, one earned, in two innings of relief.

Wimmer paced Liberty with four hits, scoring two runs and driving in two more. Jefferson, Doug Bream, Williams and Jimenez each had two hits for the Flames.

Ambercrombie was 4-for-4 for the Owls. Teammate Jusino had three hits.

Liberty continues its nine-game homestand, Tuesday. The Flames welcome the Duke Blue Devils to Worthington Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Team Stats

Wimmer Trey

Jefferson Jeff

Bream Doug

Jimenez P.J.