Liberty University
9-8
Maryland
8-8
Liberty Powers Past Maryland, 11-4
3/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
A strong relief appearance by Garrett Baker and seven extra base hits propelled the Liberty Flames past the Maryland Terrapins, 11-4, Tuesday afternoon at Smith Stadium.
With victory, Liberty moves to 9-8 on the year. The Flames have won four-straight games. Maryland falls to 8-8 on the year. Conversely, the Terps have lost four-consecutive contests.
Baker entered the contest with the bases loaded, no one out and one run already in for Maryland in the first inning and quickly restored order. The junior allowed only an unearned run, scattering three hits over eight effective innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked none, running his record to 2-0. He retired seven consecutive batters from the second through the fourth innings and later, finished his outing by setting down 12 Terrapins in order.
The Terrapins staked themselves to an early advantage with three runs in the first inning. After the first three batters for Maryland walked to open the home half of frame, left fielder Brandon Padula reached on an infield single to make it, 1-0 Terps. The home team then added two more runs in the inning with sacrifice flies by the next batters, designated hitter Tim Kiene and third baseman Jake Stinnett for a 3-0 edge.
In the top of the third inning, Liberty used four extra base hits to plate four runs and take a 4-3 advantage. With one out, second baseman Zach Haley blasted his first home run of the season off the scoreboard on the other side of the left field wall for the Flames' first run of the game.
Two batters later, first baseman Jeff Jefferson ripped a two-out, solo home run, his second of round tripper of the year. After third baseman Tyler Bream walked and left fielder Doug Bream doubled down the left field line to keep the inning alive, catcher Casey Rasmus split the right-center field gap with a liner off the wall for a double, scoring both runners to put Liberty on top on the scoreboard.
The Flames added two runs to stretch its lead in the next inning, the fourth. Right fielder Michael Robertson got things started in the stanza by reaching on a dropped third strike and moved to second on an errant throw on a pick-off attempt by Maryland reliever Brandy Kirkpatrick. After the runner moved to third base on a passed ball, center fielder Ian Parmley brought Robertson home with a two-out single. Parmley then stole second base and made it, 5-3 in favor of the Flames, scoring on a hard-hit single by Jefferson.
Maryland cut the Flame advantage with an unearned run in the fifth inning. Right fielder Charlie White singled and second baseman Ryan Holland was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom half of the frame. First baseman Tomo Delp followed with a grounder to third base, which was misplayed by Tyler Bream for an error, allowing White to score. Padula then moved the tying runs into scoring position at second and third with a sacrifice bunt. However, Baker battled back, striking out the next two hitters to strand the runners, keeping the score in the Flames' advantage, 6-4.
Liberty extended its lead to 9-4 in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Haley lined a double into the left field corner and moved to third base on a bunt single by Parmley. After a ground out for the second out of the frame, Tyler Bream was walked to fill the bases with Flames. Doug Bream followed by driving a pitch off the right-center field wall, clearing the bases and giving Liberty a 9-4 lead.
The Flames tacked on two more in the top of the ninth inning for the final of 11-4. Rasmus scored on a wild pitch and designated hitter Justin Sizemore scored on a single by Robertson.
Maryland starter Michael Boyden drops to 1-1 on the year. He gave up four runs on four hits during his three innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two batters. He was the first of five Terrapin pitchers in the contest.
Liberty had 13 hits in the game. Seven of its first 11 hits were for extra bases. Haley led all hitters in the contests with three hits, two for extra bases .Parmley, Jefferson, Doug Bream and Robertson had two hits apiece.
Maryland had five hits. The Terrapins had no extra base hits in the contest and no Maryland batter had more than one hit.
Liberty will face Maryland again tomorrow at Smith Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Garrett (2-0)
L: Michael Boyden (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Bream, Doug 2 ; Rasmus, Casey 1 ; Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Haley, Zack 1
HR: Jefferson, Jeff 1 ; Haley, Zack 1
RBI: Parmley, Ian 1 ; Jefferson, Jeff 2 ; Bream, Doug 3 ; Rasmus, Casey 2 ; Robertson, Michael 1 ; Haley, Zack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parmley, Ian 2 ; Jefferson, Jeff 1 ; Bream, Tyler 2 ; Bream, Doug 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 1 ; Sizemore, Justin 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1 ; Haley, Zack 2
SB: Parmley, Ian 2 ; Jefferson, Jeff 1 ; Rasmus, Casey 1
HBP: Rasmus, Casey 1
PO: Robertson, Michael 1
Batting:
RBI: Brandon Padula 1 ; Tim Kiene 1 ; Jake Stinnett 1
SH: Brandon Padula 1
SF: Tim Kiene 1 ; Jake Stinnett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Charlie White 2 ; Ryan Holland 1 ; Tomo Delp 1
SB: Charlie White 1 ; Ryan Holland 1
HBP: Ryan Holland 1
