Friday, April 16
Lynchburg, Va.
7:00 PM
Liberty University
23-10, 7-3
12
vs
9
VMI
29-6, 10-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VMI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | X | 12 | 12 | 1 |
Big Seventh Pushes Liberty Past No. 26 VMI
4/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Held in check for the most part through the first six innings, the Liberty Flames erupted for six seventh-inning runs and then held off the No. 26 VMI Keydets for a 12-9 victory in the first game of a three-game Big South series, Friday night at Worthington Stadium.
With the win, Liberty halts the Keydets nine-game winning streak, and moves to 7-3 in Big South action and 23-10 overall. The Flames have won nine out of their last 11 games. VMI drops to 10-3 in the conference and 29-6 overall.
Liberty jumped on the scoreboard first in the contest, with a two-out run in the third inning. With two gone in the frame, center fielder Curran Redal was hit by pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Left fielder Doug Bream followed with a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Redal for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, VMI tied the contest with its first run of the contest, only to see the Flames counter with two of their own in the bottom of the stanza. First baseman Jordan Ballard got the Keydets on the scoreboard with his 15th home run of the season. In the home half of the stanza, Liberty first baseman Trey Wimmer doubled with two runners in scoring position, as VMI right fielder Jacob Morley lost the ball in the lights, making it, 3-1 Flames.
The Keydets plated three runs in the fifth with one swing of the bat. With two men aboard, catcher Andrew Haitsuka yanked a three-run home run over the left-center field wall, his fifth of the year, pushing VMI into the lead at 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Keydets extended their advantage to 6-3. Morley brought the first VMI run home with a single and shortstop Sam Roberts later lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the other.
Liberty, who had only two hits through the first six innings, had 12 men hit in the seventh, turning its three-run deficit into a three-run advantage. Right fielder Michael Robertson started off the uprising by lining a double down the left field line and scored ahead of Wimmer's second home run of the season, a liner over the left field fence for the first two runs of the stanza. Designated hitter Jeff Jefferson reached on an infield single and Redal lined a single to right field, as the first four Flames to hit in the stanza hit safely.
With runners at the corner, Doug Bream lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jefferson and knot the contest at 6-6. Third baseman Tyler Bream followed with a single and two batters later, shortstop Matt Williams lined a triple off the top of the left-center field wall, with two men aboard, to give Liberty a an 8-6 lead.
The next batter, second baseman P.J. Jimenez, promptly singled, delivering Williams with the sixth run of the frame and a 9-6 advantage.
Liberty stretched its lead with three more runs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Jefferson, who began the inning with a single, scored on a passed ball. Catcher Nathan Thompson followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to give the Flames an 11-6 edge. Williams followed with a run-scoring single for a 12-6 lead.
In the ninth, VMI cut into Liberty's advantage early in the inning. After Haitsuka had been hit by a pitch to open the inning, Morley belted his fifth home run of the year into the right field bullpen, slicing the Flames' advantage to 12-8. The next batter, Roberts, reached on an infield error and scored on a double by second baseman Corey Spangenberg, making it, 12-9, Liberty.
However, Flames reliever Josh Richardson, who came in the eighth to retire the final batter of the inning, settled down, retiring the next three Keydets, two with strikeouts, to close out the 12-9 win.
Liberty starter Shawn Teufel moves to 7-1 on the season. The senior gave up six runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked two. Richardson followed with 1 1/3 innings of relief to record his fourth save of the year. The right-hander allowed three runs on two hits and struck out two batters.
VMI starter Adam Lopez did not figure into the decision. The right-hander allowed six runs on five hits with six-plus innings of work. He struck out six batters and walked three. Reliever John Garett takes the loss to drop to 4-1 on the season. He gave up six runs on seven hits over two innings.
Wimmer led the Flames with four RBIs on two hits. Williams added two hits and three RBIs for Liberty. Morely had two hits and three RBIs for the Keydets, while teammate Topping added two hits.
VMI and Liberty will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of the three-game Big South series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
With the win, Liberty halts the Keydets nine-game winning streak, and moves to 7-3 in Big South action and 23-10 overall. The Flames have won nine out of their last 11 games. VMI drops to 10-3 in the conference and 29-6 overall.
Liberty jumped on the scoreboard first in the contest, with a two-out run in the third inning. With two gone in the frame, center fielder Curran Redal was hit by pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Left fielder Doug Bream followed with a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Redal for a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, VMI tied the contest with its first run of the contest, only to see the Flames counter with two of their own in the bottom of the stanza. First baseman Jordan Ballard got the Keydets on the scoreboard with his 15th home run of the season. In the home half of the stanza, Liberty first baseman Trey Wimmer doubled with two runners in scoring position, as VMI right fielder Jacob Morley lost the ball in the lights, making it, 3-1 Flames.
The Keydets plated three runs in the fifth with one swing of the bat. With two men aboard, catcher Andrew Haitsuka yanked a three-run home run over the left-center field wall, his fifth of the year, pushing VMI into the lead at 4-3.
In the top of the seventh, the Keydets extended their advantage to 6-3. Morley brought the first VMI run home with a single and shortstop Sam Roberts later lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the other.
Liberty, who had only two hits through the first six innings, had 12 men hit in the seventh, turning its three-run deficit into a three-run advantage. Right fielder Michael Robertson started off the uprising by lining a double down the left field line and scored ahead of Wimmer's second home run of the season, a liner over the left field fence for the first two runs of the stanza. Designated hitter Jeff Jefferson reached on an infield single and Redal lined a single to right field, as the first four Flames to hit in the stanza hit safely.
With runners at the corner, Doug Bream lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jefferson and knot the contest at 6-6. Third baseman Tyler Bream followed with a single and two batters later, shortstop Matt Williams lined a triple off the top of the left-center field wall, with two men aboard, to give Liberty a an 8-6 lead.
The next batter, second baseman P.J. Jimenez, promptly singled, delivering Williams with the sixth run of the frame and a 9-6 advantage.
Liberty stretched its lead with three more runs in the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Jefferson, who began the inning with a single, scored on a passed ball. Catcher Nathan Thompson followed with a sacrifice fly RBI to give the Flames an 11-6 edge. Williams followed with a run-scoring single for a 12-6 lead.
In the ninth, VMI cut into Liberty's advantage early in the inning. After Haitsuka had been hit by a pitch to open the inning, Morley belted his fifth home run of the year into the right field bullpen, slicing the Flames' advantage to 12-8. The next batter, Roberts, reached on an infield error and scored on a double by second baseman Corey Spangenberg, making it, 12-9, Liberty.
However, Flames reliever Josh Richardson, who came in the eighth to retire the final batter of the inning, settled down, retiring the next three Keydets, two with strikeouts, to close out the 12-9 win.
Liberty starter Shawn Teufel moves to 7-1 on the season. The senior gave up six runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked two. Richardson followed with 1 1/3 innings of relief to record his fourth save of the year. The right-hander allowed three runs on two hits and struck out two batters.
VMI starter Adam Lopez did not figure into the decision. The right-hander allowed six runs on five hits with six-plus innings of work. He struck out six batters and walked three. Reliever John Garett takes the loss to drop to 4-1 on the season. He gave up six runs on seven hits over two innings.
Wimmer led the Flames with four RBIs on two hits. Williams added two hits and three RBIs for Liberty. Morely had two hits and three RBIs for the Keydets, while teammate Topping added two hits.
VMI and Liberty will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of the three-game Big South series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Teufel, Shawn (7-1)
L: GARRETT, John (4-1)
S: Richardson, Josh (4)
Batting:
2B: SPANGENBERG, Cory 1 ; TOPPING, Justin 1
HR: BALLARD, Jordan 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 1 ; MORLEY, Jacob 1
RBI: ROBERTS, Sam 1 ; SPANGENBERG, Cory 1 ; BALLARD, Jordan 1 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 3 ; MORLEY, Jacob 3
SF: ROBERTS, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROBERTS, Sam 1 ; BALLARD, Jordan 1 ; BIAGINI, Tanner 1 ; RIVERS, Ombri 2 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 3 ; MORLEY, Jacob 1
CS: RIVERS, Ombri 1
HBP: BIAGINI, Tanner 1 ; RIVERS, Ombri 2 ; HAITSUKA, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Robertson, Michael 1 ; Wimmer, Trey 1
3B: Williams, Matt 1
HR: Wimmer, Trey 1
RBI: Bream, Doug 2 ; Thompson, Nathan 1 ; Williams, Matt 3 ; Jimenez, P.J. 1 ; Wimmer, Trey 4
SH: Negron, Kenneth 1
SF: Bream, Doug 1 ; Thompson, Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Redal, Curran 2 ; Bream, Tyler 2 ; Thompson, Nathan 1 ; Williams, Matt 1 ; Jimenez, P.J. 1 ; Robertson, Michael 2 ; Wimmer, Trey 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 2
SB: Williams, Matt 1
CS: Wimmer, Trey 1
HBP: Redal, Curran 1 ; Wimmer, Trey 1
Game Leaders
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AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
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AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
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AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
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AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
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