Liberty University
11-6
Evansville
8-7
Yacyk's Home Run Leads Liberty Past Evansville
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Left fielder Andrew Yacyk hit a three-run home run, leading the Liberty Flames to a 5-2 win over the Evansville Purple Aces, Sunday in the final game of the Liberty Invitational at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Yacyk hit his team-leading third home run of the season in the first inning, helping Liberty to build a 4-0 lead after one. The outfielder also had a single in the contest.
Liberty moves to 11-6 on the year and completes its own Liberty Invitational with a 4-0 record. Earlier in the day, the Flames defeated the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, 7-5. The Flames also defeated the Purple Aces, 5-3, during the tournament, Saturday. Evansville drops to 8-7 on the year.
Liberty staked itself to a 4-0 advantage in the first inning. Center fielder D.J. Artis and right fielder Will Shepherd walked to open the home half of the frame. Second baseman Andrew Kowalo then plated the first run of the contest with a RBI single. Yacyk followed with his three-run blast to give the Flames a four-run edge.
After being held in check by Liberty starting pitcher Parker Bean through the first four innings, Evansville got on the scoreboard in the fifth. Center fielder Nate Reeder led off the inning with a triple to left field on a liner which hoped over Flames left fielder Yacyk's head when he tried to make a diving catch. Left fielder Josh Jyawook followed with a run-scoring grounder, cutting the Liberty lead to 4-1.
The Flames extended its advantage back to four with a run in the sixth. Kowalo reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a two-out double by shortstop Dalton Britt, upping the Liberty lead to 5-1.
After the Purple Aces pushed across a run in the seventh to trim the Flames' advantage to 5-2, Liberty reliever Shane Quarterley did not allow a run over the final two innings to close out the win. Evansville did bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth with one out, but Quarterley got Purple Aces shortstop Stewart Nelson to ground into a double play to end the contest and earn his third save of the year.
Bean moves to 1-0 on the season. He allowed one run on two hits, striking out seven and walking six.
Evansville starting pitcher Austin Allinger falls to 2-1. The right-hander, the first of three Purple Aces to pitch in the contest, gave up five runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Liberty collected eight hits in the contest, while Evansville had seven. Shepherd joined Yacyk with two hits in the game.
Liberty will next travel to Blacksburg, Va., for a contest against the Virginia Tech Hokies, Tuesday. First pitch at English Field is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bean, Parker (1-0)
L: Allinger,Austin (2-1)
S: Quarterley, Shane (3)
Batting:
3B: Reeder,Nate 1
RBI: Jyawook,Josh 2
SH: Nelson,Stewart 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tokarek,Travis 1 ; Reeder,Nate 1
Batting:
2B: Britt, Dalton 1
3B: Taormina, Sammy 1
HR: Yacyk, Andrew 1
RBI: Kowalo, Andrew 1 ; Yacyk, Andrew 3 ; Britt, Dalton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Artis, D.J. 1 ; Shepherd, Will 1 ; Kowalo, Andrew 2 ; Yacyk, Andrew 1
SB: Artis, D.J. 1
PO: Shepherd, Will 1
