Liberty University
13-8
Kent State
12-5
Kent State Defeats Liberty in Game Two of Doubleheader
3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Kent State Golden Flashes plated five runs in the first, leading from start to finish in an 8-1 win over the Liberty Flames in game two of a doubleheader, Saturday at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The two teams split the twinbill, as Liberty took the first game, 4-2.
Liberty designated hitter Nick Walker went 3-for-3 with a walk to lead all hitters in the contest.
The Flames drop to 13-8 on the year. Kent State moves to 12-5 on the season.
The visiting Golden Flashes sent all nine men in the batting order to the plate in the first inning of the seven-inning contest. With two men on after receiving free passes, third baseman Dylan Rosa lined a two-run double into left field for a 2-0 Kent State edge. A two-out error by Liberty pitcher Zander Clouse on a dropped throw to first base, allowed Rosa to score, making it 3-0. Two batters later, designated hitter Brad Hamilton's two run double gave the visitors a 5-0 advantage.
The Golden Flashes extended its lead in the second. A two-run double by first baseman Zarley Zalewski pushed the Kent State advantage to 7-0.
Liberty loaded the bases in third inning with no outs in the third and one out in the fifth. However each time, left-hander Eli Kraus was able to end the scoring threat without allowing a run.
After Kent State scored a run in the top of the seventh, Liberty scored a run in the bottom of the inning for the final score of 8-1. Flames center fielder D.J. Artis singled and designated hitter Nick Walker doubled to open the inning. Right fielder Will Shepherd then lifted a fly ball to plate Artis.
Liberty right-hander Clouse drops to 2-1 on the season. Clouse gave up five runs, two earned, on three hits over 2/3-plus innings. He struck out two batters and walked two batters.
Kraus moves to 3-1. The left-hander did not allow a run in 5 1/3 innings of work.
Kent State outhit Liberty, 9-7, in the contest.
Kent State and Liberty will meet in the final contest of the four-game series, tomorrow at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Due to forecasted weather for the Lynchburg area, first pitch is now scheduled for noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kraus, Eli (3-1)
L: Clouse, Zander (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 2 ; Hamilton, Brad 1 ; Schuler, Pete 1
RBI: Zalewski, Zarley 2 ; Rosa, Dylan 2 ; Simonetti, Conner 1 ; Schuler, Pete 2
SF: Simonetti, Conner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Beckner, Zach 1 ; Burch, Luke 2 ; Zalewski, Zarley 1 ; Rosa, Dylan 1 ; Simonetti, Conner 1 ; Hamilton, Brad 1
CS: Mamarella, Mason 1
HBP: Zalewski, Zarley 1
Batting:
2B: Walker, Nick 1
RBI: Shepherd, Will 1
SF: Shepherd, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Artis, D.J. 1
