Liberty University
16-7
Duke
12-13
Big Ninth Inning Helps Liberty Sink Duke 9-2
3/29/2022 8:33:00 PM | Baseball
Leading 3-2, the visiting Liberty Flames erupted for six ninth-inning runs to power past the Duke Blue Devils 9-2, Tuesday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Liberty relievers Mason Fluharty and Dylan Cumming combined to hold a one-run advantage provided by first baseman Logan Mathieu's three-run home run in the fourth inning before the Flames batted around in the ninth inning.
Left fielder Brady Gulakowski had two hits and two RBIs for the Flames. Catcher Three Hillier added two hits and scored a run. Matthieu's home run was his second of the year.
Liberty moves to 16-7 overall and snaps a two-game losing streak. Duke drops to 12-13.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (16-7); Duke (12-13)
Location: Durham, N.C. (Durham Bulls Athletic Park)
WP: Jeremy Beamon (2-0) | LP: Jonathan Santucci (0-1)
Scoring Summary
1st INNING – DUKE – Pauley homers, 1-0
3rd INNING – DUKE – Pauley grounds into a double play, Hoyle scores, 2-0
4th INNING – LIBERTY – Mathieu homers, Foster and Gulakowski score, 3-2
9th INNING – LIBERTY – Baughman singles, Hillier scores, 4-2
9th INNING – LIBERTY – Lazzaro singles, Foster scores, 5-2
9th INNING – LIBERTY – Hill singles, Baughman and Mathieu scores, 7-2
9th INNING – LIBERTY – Gulakowski doubles, Lazzaro and Hill score, 9-2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Duke, 9-7. The Blue Devils committed the game's only error.
- The Flames left five men on base. The Blue Devils left seven men.
- Liberty was 6-for-10 in the contest with runners in scoring position.
- Flames right-hander Jeremy Beamon picks up the win. The freshman allowed two runs on four hits over the first three innings. He induced three ground ball double plays.
- Fluharty pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings, while Cumming pitched a scoreless sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
- The second of six Duke pitchers in the game, Jonathan Santucci takes the loss. He gave up three runs on two hits over two innings. He struck out four and walked one.
- Third baseman Graham Pauley was the only Blue Devil with two hits in the contest. He hit his fifth home run of the season, leading off the bottom of the first inning.
Turning Point
Leading 3-2, Liberty struck for six runs on six hits in the top of the ninth. Hillier walked and moved to third on a double by second baseman Cameron Foster to open the inning. Mathieu was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Two batters later, pinch hitter Drew Baughman singled through the right side of the infield, plating Hillier for a 4-2 advantage. Shortstop Jake Lazzaro followed with a bunt single to score Forester for a 5-2 lead.
Third baseman Stephen Hill continued the run-scoring hits with a single back through the middle of the field to bring home Baughman and Mathieu for a 7-2 advantage. Two batters later, Gulakowski lined a 2-run double off the center-field wall to give the Flames a 9-2 lead.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty improves to 6-3 on the road, this season. The Flames have won two of its last three games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
- The Flames are 12-0 in 2022 when out-hitting their opponent.
- Beamon made his first collegiate start, this afternoon.
- Fluharty walked a batter for the first time this season in the fifth inning. The left-hander had pitched 20 1/3 innings without walking a batter.
- Gulakowski records his seventh multi-hit game and his seventh game with two or more RBI in a game.
- Hillier posts his sixth multi-hit game of the year.
Up Next
Liberty returns to ASUN Conference play, this weekend. The Flames travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for a three-game series against the Jacksonville Dolphins, beginning Friday. Game time Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beamon, Jeremy (2-0)
L: Santucci,Jonathan (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Gulakowski, Brady 1 ; Hillier, Three 1 ; Foster, Cam 1
HR: Mathieu, Logan 1
RBI: Hill, Stephen 2 ; Gulakowski, Brady 2 ; Mathieu, Logan 3 ; Baughman, Drew 1 ; Lazzaro, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hill, Stephen 1 ; Gulakowski, Brady 1 ; Hillier, Three 1 ; Foster, Cam 2 ; Mathieu, Logan 2 ; Baughman, Drew 1 ; Lazzaro, Jake 1
Batting:
HR: Pauley,Graham 1
RBI: Pauley,Graham 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pauley,Graham 1 ; Hoyle,Wil 1
HBP: Storm,Luke 1 ; Crabtree,Chris 1 ; Stone,Alex 1
