Tuesday, May 12
Durham, N.C.
2:00 PM
Liberty University
30-17
4
at
1
Duke
32-21
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| DUKE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Three-Run Ninth Pushes Liberty Past Duke
5/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Liberty Flames scored three times in the ninth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie, en route to their 30th victory of the season, a 4-1 win, over the Duke Blue Devils, Tuesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.
With the score tied, Liberty plated three runs in the ninth inning. Redal led off the inning by dropping a double into the right-center field gap and moved to third base on a bunt base hit by Tim Rotola (Sr., Wichita, Kan.), who entered the game as the left fielder in the bottom of the sixth. After Redal was thrown out at home plate attempting to score on a grounder to third base by Hollinger, Cody Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Right fielder Casey Brown (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif.) delivered the go-ahead run with a single to right field. Hollinger made it, 3-1, scoring on a wild pitch with pinch hitter Justin Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.) at the plate. Richardson followed with a single up the middle, scoring Casey Brown for a 4-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, Flames' reliever Andrew Wilson (Sr., RHP, Cary, N.C.) retired the host Blue Devils in order, sealing Liberty's 30th win of the season.
The Flames move to 30-17 on the year. Duke drops to 32-21 on the season. For the first-time in the 36-year history of the Liberty program, the Flames have won 30 or more games in five consecutive seasons. Before last season, Liberty had never won 30 or more contests in a season more than three-straight years.
The visiting Flames jumped on the scoreboard in their first at bat of the afternoon. With one out, center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.) sent a single through the middle and two batters later, advanced to second on a two-out bunt single by catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., C, Upland, Calif.). Designated hitter Cody Brown (Sr., Cummings, Ga.) followed with ripping a full-count single to right, scoring Redal for a 1-0 Liberty lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Blue Devils threatened, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. First baseman Jeremy Gould singled to left field and center fielder Will Pinca-Worms sent a double into the left-center field gap to open the frame. However, Liberty pitcher Tyler Light (Sr., RHP, San Bernardino, Calif.) struck out the next two Duke batters, and then got the final out of the inning by inducing a lazy fly ball to right field, stranding both runners.
The Blue Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning. Once again, Light rose to the occasion, keeping Duke off the scoreboard by inducing the next batter, Pinca-Worms, foul out near the Liberty dugout along the first base line.
In the fifth, Duke benefitted from a Liberty error to even the score at 1-1. Third baseman Ryan McCurdy singled leading off the inning and moved all the way to third base on an errant throw on a failed pick off attempt by Liberty catcher Hollinger. Two batters later, Blue Devil catcher Matt Williams grounded out to second, plating McCurdy with the tying run.
Held in check since the first inning, the Flames moved the go-ahead run into scoring position in the top of the eighth, only to be turned away. Third baseman John Long (Fr., Anderson, S.C.) walked to open the frame. The freshman moved to second base with one out on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.). But, the runner was stranded, as Duke reliever Kevin Bulter retired the next two Liberty hitters.
Flames' starter Light pitched seven strong innings, allowing an unearned run on six hits. The senior right-hander struck out a season-high eight Blue Devil batters, while walking one. Carter Browning (Jr., Ada, Okla.) pitched a scoreless eighth to run his record to 2-1 on the year. Wilson recorded his fifth save of the season.
Duke reliever Dennis O'Grady falls to 1-2 on the season. The fifth pitcher in the contest for the Blue Devils, gave up three runs on four hits over one inning of work.
Redal and Cody Brown each had two of the Flames' eight hits in the contest. Designated hitter Nate Freiman had two of the Blue Devils' six hits in the game.
Liberty returns home Thursday to begin its regular season ending Big South Conference series against the Radford Highlanders. First pitch Thursday at Worthington Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
With the score tied, Liberty plated three runs in the ninth inning. Redal led off the inning by dropping a double into the right-center field gap and moved to third base on a bunt base hit by Tim Rotola (Sr., Wichita, Kan.), who entered the game as the left fielder in the bottom of the sixth. After Redal was thrown out at home plate attempting to score on a grounder to third base by Hollinger, Cody Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Right fielder Casey Brown (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif.) delivered the go-ahead run with a single to right field. Hollinger made it, 3-1, scoring on a wild pitch with pinch hitter Justin Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.) at the plate. Richardson followed with a single up the middle, scoring Casey Brown for a 4-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, Flames' reliever Andrew Wilson (Sr., RHP, Cary, N.C.) retired the host Blue Devils in order, sealing Liberty's 30th win of the season.
The Flames move to 30-17 on the year. Duke drops to 32-21 on the season. For the first-time in the 36-year history of the Liberty program, the Flames have won 30 or more games in five consecutive seasons. Before last season, Liberty had never won 30 or more contests in a season more than three-straight years.
The visiting Flames jumped on the scoreboard in their first at bat of the afternoon. With one out, center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.) sent a single through the middle and two batters later, advanced to second on a two-out bunt single by catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., C, Upland, Calif.). Designated hitter Cody Brown (Sr., Cummings, Ga.) followed with ripping a full-count single to right, scoring Redal for a 1-0 Liberty lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Blue Devils threatened, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. First baseman Jeremy Gould singled to left field and center fielder Will Pinca-Worms sent a double into the left-center field gap to open the frame. However, Liberty pitcher Tyler Light (Sr., RHP, San Bernardino, Calif.) struck out the next two Duke batters, and then got the final out of the inning by inducing a lazy fly ball to right field, stranding both runners.
The Blue Devils loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning. Once again, Light rose to the occasion, keeping Duke off the scoreboard by inducing the next batter, Pinca-Worms, foul out near the Liberty dugout along the first base line.
In the fifth, Duke benefitted from a Liberty error to even the score at 1-1. Third baseman Ryan McCurdy singled leading off the inning and moved all the way to third base on an errant throw on a failed pick off attempt by Liberty catcher Hollinger. Two batters later, Blue Devil catcher Matt Williams grounded out to second, plating McCurdy with the tying run.
Held in check since the first inning, the Flames moved the go-ahead run into scoring position in the top of the eighth, only to be turned away. Third baseman John Long (Fr., Anderson, S.C.) walked to open the frame. The freshman moved to second base with one out on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.). But, the runner was stranded, as Duke reliever Kevin Bulter retired the next two Liberty hitters.
Flames' starter Light pitched seven strong innings, allowing an unearned run on six hits. The senior right-hander struck out a season-high eight Blue Devil batters, while walking one. Carter Browning (Jr., Ada, Okla.) pitched a scoreless eighth to run his record to 2-1 on the year. Wilson recorded his fifth save of the season.
Duke reliever Dennis O'Grady falls to 1-2 on the season. The fifth pitcher in the contest for the Blue Devils, gave up three runs on four hits over one inning of work.
Redal and Cody Brown each had two of the Flames' eight hits in the contest. Designated hitter Nate Freiman had two of the Blue Devils' six hits in the game.
Liberty returns home Thursday to begin its regular season ending Big South Conference series against the Radford Highlanders. First pitch Thursday at Worthington Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Browning, Carter (2-1)
L: Dennis O'Grady (1-2)
S: Wilson, Andrew (5)
Batting:
2B: Redal, Curran 1
RBI: Brown, Cody 1 ; Brown, Casey 1 ; Richardson, Justin 1
SH: Wimmer, Trey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Redal, Curran 1 ; Rotola, Tim 1 ; Hollinger, Errol 1 ; Brown, Casey 1
HBP: Brown, Cody 1
Batting:
2B: Will Piwnica-Worms 1
RBI: Matt Williams 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryan McCurdy 1
SB: Tom Luciano 1
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