Liberty University
37-23
Central Michigan
43-18
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Central Michigan Edges Liberty 3-2 in 12 innings to Eliminate Flames from Regional
6/4/2022 7:43:29 PM | Baseball
Postgame Comments - Head Coach Scott Jackson
Central Michigan first baseman Danny Wuestenfeld’s two-out single in the 12th inning gave the Chippewas a 3-2 walk-off win to eliminate the Liberty Flames from the 2022 NCAA Gainesville, Fla. Regional, Saturday at Condron Family Ballpark.
A pitchers’ duel throughout, Liberty battled back to tie the game twice, once at 1-1 in the sixth inning and once at 2-2 in the eighth, in the contest to send the game into extra innings.
Liberty pitchers Joe Adametz III and Mason Fluharty combined to allow two runs on five hits over the first 11 innings.
Central Michigan pitchers Jordan Patty and Adam Mrakitsch matched the Flames’ duo, giving up two runs on five hits over 12 innings.
First baseman Logan Mathieu had Liberty’s lone RBI with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Flames left fielder Three Hillier had two hits and scored a run, while catcher Gray Betts recorded two hits also.
Liberty finishes its season with a 37-23 overall. Central Michigan moves to 43-18 and moves on to face the loser of tonight’s game between regional host Florida and Oklahoma.
Box Score Highlights
Records Liberty (37-23); Central Michigan (43-18)
Location: Gainesville, Fla. (Condron Family Ballpark)
WP: Adam Mrakitsch (7-1) | LP: Cade Hungate (2-1)
Scoring Summary
3rd INNING – CMU – Marsee grounds out, Proctor scores, 1-0
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first base, Orndorff scores, 1-1
6th INNING – CMU – Dardas singles, Morgan scores, 2-1
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Mathieu flies out, Hillier scores, 2-2
12th INNING – CMU – Wuestenfeld singles, Zechnir scores, 3-2
Notable Numbers
- Central Michigan outhit Liberty, 7-5. Each team committed two errors in the contest.
- The Flames left 10 men on base. The Chippewas left nine.
- The third Liberty pitcher in the game, Cade Hungate, takes the loss. He allowed one run on two hits, facing five batters in the 12th.
- Liberty starter Adametz gave up two runs on five hits over the first six innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked four.
- Fluharty relieved Adametz and pitched five scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit. He struck five and did not walk a batter.
- Central Michigan reliever Markitsch recorded the win. He gave up one run on two hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked three.
- Chippewas’ starter Jordan Patty allowed an unearned run on three hits over the first six innings. He struck seven and walked five.
- Wuestenfeld was the only Central Michigan hitter with two hits in the game.
Turning Point
Twice the Flames battled back from one-run deficits to tie the contest, sending the game to extra innings at 2-2 on a sacrifice fly to score Hiller who led off the inning with a double in the eighth.
In the bottom of the 12th, Central Michigan designated hitter Garrett Navarra singled and second baseman Mario Camilletti was hit by a pitch to open the frame. Shortstop Justin Simpson bunted both runners into scoring position and the Flames looked like they might get out of the inning when right fielder Jakob Marsee lined out to the second baseman for the second out. Wuestenfeld followed by lining the first pitch of his at bat through the left side of the infield for the 3-2 win.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Flames played into extra innings in a regional for the first time since 2019, when they were eliminated by Tennessee 6-5 in 10 innings at the NCAA Chapel Hill, N.C. Regional on June 2.
- For the first time in program history, the Flames played in an NCAA Regional for the third straight season. Liberty also appeared in regionals the 2019 and 2021.
- Liberty finishes the year with 618 strikeouts, the most in a single season in program history, eclipsing the previous record of 557 by the 2019 team. It is the first time in program history that a Flames’ pitching staff struck out over 600 in a season.
- With his RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game in the eighth inning, Mathieu moves into a tie for sixth on Liberty’s career RBI list with 158.
- Outfielder Derek Orndorff scored a run in the contest to finish the year with a team-leading 61 runs scored, tying him with five former Flames for seventh-most in a single season in program history.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MRAKITSCH, Adam (7-1)
L: Hungate, Cade (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Orndorff, Derek 1 ; Hillier, Three 1
RBI: Mathieu, Logan 1
SH: Hill, Stephen 1 ; Keeter, Nathan 1
SF: Mathieu, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Orndorff, Derek 1 ; Hillier, Three 1
HBP: Gulakowski, Brady 1
Batting:
RBI: MARSEE, Jakob 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1 ; DARDAS, Nick 1
SH: SIMPSON, Justin 2 ; DONAHUE, Jacob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MORGAN, Robby 1 ; PROCTOR, Adam 1 ; LECHNIR, Zach 1
HBP: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1 ; MARSEE, Jakob 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1
