Liberty University
28-16, 14-4
Gardner-Webb
19-25, 5-13
Clowers Registers First Career Shutout Helping Flames Defeat Bulldogs, 3-0
4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Left-hander Shawn Clowers held Gardner-Webb in check, pitching the first shutout of his career to lead the Liberty Flames to a 3-0 victory over Runnin' Bulldogs, Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Liberty sweeps the three-game Big South Conference series. Flames' pitching held the Bulldogs to two runs and 10 hits during the weekend series, as Jared Lyons on Friday and Clowers threw shutouts.
Tied for third in the country and the Big South leader in victories entering the weekend, Clowers moves to 9-3 on the year. The senior scattered three hits and did not allow a runner to reach second base. The left-hander retired 10 in a row between the second and fifth innings. He struck out six and walked two batters in going the full nine innings for the first time in his career.
Right fielder Will Shepherd posted his first three-hit game of the year, stole two bases and scored all three Liberty runs. Designated hitter Andrew Yacyk drove in the right fielder twice with two singles.
Liberty moves to 14-4 in the Big South and 28-16 overall. Gardner-Webb falls to 5-13 in conference and 19-25 overall.
After Clowers and Runnin' Bulldogs left-hander Mitch Warner match scoreless innings through the third, Liberty struck for the only run Clowers needed in the fourth. Shepherd open the bottom of the inning with a single to right field and stole second. Yacyk followed with a single to score Shepherd for a 1-0 edge.
In the sixth, the Flames pushed across another run. Once again, Shepherd began the inning with a single and stole second. Two batters later, a one-out infield single by center fielder Aaron Stroosma moved Shepherd to third. Second baseman Nick Salisbury then laid down a safety bunt, plating Shepherd for a 2-0 lead.
Liberty added an insurance run in the eighth. Shepherd doubled to open the home half of the eighth. Yacyk followed with run-scoring single for what proved to be the final score of 3-0.
Warner drops to 2-5 on the season. The first of four Gardner-Webb pitchers in the contest, he gave up two runs on eight hits over 5 1/3-plus innings. He struck out three batters and walked one.
Liberty collected 11 hits in the contest. Stroosma and first baseman Alex Close also had two hits apiece for the Flames. Close has reached base in 34 consecutive contests. Meanwhile, shortstop Dalton Britt doubled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to a Liberty season-high 11 games.
Liberty will complete a five-game homestand during the upcoming week. The Flames will host the James Madison Dukes, Tuesday at Liberty Baseball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Wednesday, the Flames will welcome the East Carolina Pirates to Liberty Baseball Stadium. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clowers, Shawn (9-3)
L: WARNER, Mitch (2-5)
Base Running:
CS: BEST, Tyler 1
PO: BEST, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Britt, Dalton 1 ; Shepherd, Will 1 ; Stroosma, Aaron 1
RBI: Yacyk, Andrew 2 ; Salisbury, Nick 1
SH: Salisbury, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shepherd, Will 3
SB: Shepherd, Will 2 ; Stroosma, Aaron 1
CS: Roberts, Tray 1
HBP: Perritt, Ashton 1 ; Stroosma, Aaron 1
