Liberty University
6-5
UCF
3-8
Anderson and Locklear Hit Home Runs, Powering Liberty Past UCF 3-2 Sunday
3/7/2021 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Liberty shortstop Cam Locklear and left fielder Aaron Anderson each hit home runs, helping to propel the Flames past the UCF Knights 3-2, Sunday afternoon at John Euliano Park. With the victory, Liberty sweeps the three-game series between the two clubs.
Locklear broke up a scoreless game with a solo home run in the fifth and Anderson belted his solo home run in the sixth inning.
Liberty freshman right-hander Trey Gibson recorded his first collegiate win, allowing one run on three hits over five innings. Landon Riley pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his second save of the year.
Infielder Will Wagner had two hits, an RBI and scored a run in the contest for the Flames.
Winners of four-straight games, Liberty moves to 6-5 on the year. UCF drops to 3-7.
Box Score Highlights
Records:Â Liberty (6-5): UCF (3-8)
Location:Â Orlando, Fla. (John Euliano Park)
WP:Â Trey Gibson (1-2) |Â LP:Â AJ Jones (1-1) |Â SV:Â Landon Riley (2)
Scoring Summary
LIBERTY – 5th INNING – Locklear homers, 1-0
UCF – 5th INNING – Pena flies out, Josten scores, 1-1
LIBERTY – 6th INNING – Anderson homers, 2-1
LIBERTY – 8th INNING – Wagner singles, Guy scores, 3-1
UCF – 8th INNING – Freeland grounds out, Pena scores, 3-2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty and UCF each had seven hits in the contest. The Knights made the game's only error.
- The Flames left six men on base. The Knights left seven.
- Locklear hit his second home run of the season. Anderson hit his first home run as a Flame.
- Right fielder Jake Wilson joined Wagner with two hits in the game.
- Gibson struck out six and walked three over the first five innings in recording his first collegiate win.
- Riley recorded his second save of the season. He did not allow a run over the final 1 1/3 innings, striking out two and not walking a batter.
Turning Point
 After Gibson stranded the go-ahead run at second in the bottom of the fifth, Anderson gave Liberty a 2-1 lead in the sixth. The left fielder lined an A.J. Jones offering over the right field wall leading off the sixth to put the Flames in front.
Beyond the Box Score
- With their win, Liberty completed its first sweep of a three-game road series since April 28-30, 2017. The Flames took all three-games of a series at Longwood.
- Liberty hit five home runs during the three-game series. The Flames have hit at least one home run in each of their last four games and have hit a home run in nine of their 11 games this season.
- Wilson posted his third multi-hit game of the season and Wagner his second multi-hit game of the year in the contest.
- Anderson has reached base safely in 10 of Liberty's 11 games this season.
- Riley has not allowed a run in five appearances out of the Flames' bullpen this season.
- Freshman Three Hillier received his first collegiate start as the Liberty designated hitter, this afternoon.
Next Up
Liberty will continue its four-game road trip by traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a contest against the No. 25 North Carolina Tar Heels, Tuesday. First pitch at Boshamer Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gibson, Trey (1-2)
L: A Jones (1-1)
S: Riley, Landon (2)
Batting:
HR: Anderson, Aaron 1 ; Locklear, Cam 1
RBI: Anderson, Aaron 1 ; Wagner, Will 1 ; Locklear, Cam 1
SH: Betts, Gray 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Aaron 1 ; Locklear, Cam 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1
SB: Wilson, Jake 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1
HBP: Guy, Jaylen 2
Batting:
2B: G Pena 1 ; P Ruiz 1
RBI: G Pena 1 ; A Freeland 1
SF: G Pena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: G Pena 1 ; T Josten 1
SB: G Pena 3 ; T Josten 1 ; P Ruiz 1
HBP: J Montes 1
