Liberty University
34-11, 0
Kennesaw State
26-18, 0
Delaite Goes Distance as Liberty Drops Kennesaw State 3-1
5/14/2021 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
For the second consecutive week, Liberty left-hander Trevor Delaite pitched a complete game, lifting the Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Kennesaw State Owls, Friday evening at Stillwell Baseball Stadium.
After going the distance in a 4-0 win over Kennesaw State last Friday, Delaite allowed the Owls one run on four hits over the full nine innings this evening. The senior left-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter in running his record to an ASUN-leading 9-1 and recording his fourth complete game of the year.
Catcher Gray Betts plated Liberty's first run of the game with an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch to give the Flames a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Shortstop Cam Locklear was the only player in the game with two hits and drove in Liberty's final run of the game with a single in the ninth.
Liberty defeats Kennesaw State for the fourth consecutive game and moves 18-1 in ASUN Conference play. The Flames have won seven games in a row and improve to 34-11 overall. Kennesaw State falls to 12-7 in the ASUN and 26-18 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (34-11; 18-1 ASUN); Kennesaw State (26-18; 12-7 ASUN
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Stillwell Baseball Stadium)
WP: Trevor Delaite (9-1) | LP: Jake Rice (8-2)
Scoring Summary
LIBERTY – 3rd INNING – Betts triples, Mathieu scores, 1-0
LIBERTY – 3rd INNING – Betts scores on a wild pitch, 2-0
KSU – 7th INNING – Norman reaches on a fielder's choice, Sherill scores, 2-1
LIBERTY – 9th INNING – Locklear singles, McDyre scores, 3-1
Notable Numbers
- Liberty had six hits in the contest. Kennesaw State managed four hits.
- The Owls committed three errors in the contest. The Flames did not make an error.
- Baserunners were at a premium in the contest. The Flames left six men on base, while Kennesaw State left three.
- Delaite retired 13 batters in a row from the second through the sixth innings.
- Liberty third baseman Trey McDyre walked twice and scored a run.
- Kennesaw State left-hander Jake Rice takes the loss. He gave up two runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked one.
- Four different Owls had one hit in the contest.
Turning Point
With Liberty leading 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Kennesaw State moved runners into scoring position at second and third with one out. Owls right fielder Terrance Norman then grounded to Flames shortstop Locklear, scoring a run. However, Locklear threw out the runner at second trying to advance to third for the second out of the inning. Delaite then got first baseman Nick Hassan to ground out to second base to end the inning and hold Liberty's 2-1 lead.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty wins its 14th consecutive ASUN conference game of the year and moves to 12-9 on the road.
- The Flames are 24-1 when outhitting their opponent and 21-3 when not committing an error in a contest.
- Delaite becomes the first Liberty pitcher since Keegan Linza pitched five complete games in 2011 to throw four or more complete games in a season. Delaite leads the ASUN Conference in wins (9), innings pitched (84.0) and complete games.
- Locklear records his 11th multi-hit game of the season. The shortstop played in his 234th career game this evening and is six games shy of playing in the most games in program history.
- The reigning ASUN Player of Week Brady Gulakowski singled in the fourth for the Flames. The designated hitter has at least one hit in six consecutive games.
- Left fielder Aaron Anderson singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to a personal season high of 10 games. The outfielder has reached base safely in 21 straight contests.
- Betts tripled for the fourth time this season and has now reached base safely in team-leading 34 consecutive games.
Next Up
The Flames and Owls will meet again tomorrow at Stillwell Baseball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DeLaite, Trevor (9-1)
L: RICE, Jake (8-2)
Batting:
3B: Betts, Gray 1
RBI: Betts, Gray 1 ; Locklear, Cam 1
SH: Gulakowski, Brady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Betts, Gray 1 ; McDyre, Trey 1 ; Mathieu, Logan 1
HBP: Locklear, Cam 1
PO: Wagner, Will 1 ; Locklear, Cam 1
Batting:
RBI: NORMAN, Terence 1
SH: CARBALLO, Alex 1 ; HODGES, Garrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHERRILL, Jesse 1
HBP: MCPHEE, Skylar 1
