Liberty University
3-4
Winthrop
4-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 5 |
| Winthrop | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
Stewart Breaks Tie with 3-Run Home Run in Eighth; Liberty Downs Winthrop 9-7
2/26/2023 6:22:02 PM | Baseball
First baseman Will Stewart’s three-run home run in the eighth inning broke a 5-5 tie as the Liberty Flames defeated the Winthrop Eagles 9-7, Sunday afternoon at Winthrop Ballpark.
Stewart’s home run, his first hit in a Flames uniform, was one of three Liberty home runs in the contest. Third baseman Cam Foster hit his first of the year in the fourth and catcher Gray Betts lined his second home run of the season inside the right field foul pole in the seventh.
Betts led the Flames with two hits in the contest.
With the win, Liberty takes the three-game series, two games to one. The Flames move to 3-4 on the season. Winthrop falls to 4-3.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (3-4); Winthrop (4-3)
Location: Rock Hill, S.C. (Winthrop Ballpark)
WP: Cole Hertzler (1-0) | LP: Brody Hopkins (0-1)
Scoring Summary
1st INNING – WU – Hopkins files out, Ducharme scores (unearned), 1-0
2nd INNING – WU – Cordova singles, Hooks scores, 2-0
4th INNING – LIBERTY – Cam Foster homers, Castillo scores, 2-2
5th INNING – LIBERTY – Betts singles, Guy scores (unearned), 3-2
5th INNING – LIBERTY – Castillo grounds into a double play, Lazzaro scores (unearned), 4-2
6th INNING – WU – Cordova singles, Hooks scores (unearned), 4-3
7th INNING – LIBERTY – Betts homers, 5-3
7th INNING – WU – Kirkland grounds out, Teel scores, 5-4
7th INNING – WU – Hooks reaches on an error, Ervers (unearned) scores, 5-5
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Stewart homers, Keeter and Troyer score, 8-5
9th INNING – LIBERTY – Lazzaro scores on a wild pitch, 9-5
9th INNING – WU – Svetitz grounds out, Teel scores, 9-6
9th INNING – WU – Kirkland reaches on an error, Ervers (unearned), 9-7
Notable Numbers
- Each team had eight hits in the game. The Flames committed a season-high five errors, while the Eagles made two.
- Liberty left four men on bases. Winthrop left nine men on base.
- Liberty reliever Cole Hertzler, the last of five Flames to pitch in the contest, records the win. The right-hander allowed two runs, one earned, over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
- Flames starting pitcher Mickey Tepper gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits over the first two innings. He struck out four and walked two batters.
- Winthrop reliever Brady Hopkins takes the loss. He gave up five runs on four hits over two-plus innings. He struck out five and walked one.
The Turning Point
After Winthrop tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Liberty took the lead for good in the eighth, striking with two outs. Right fielder Camden Troyer singled and second baseman Nathan Keeter walked to keep the inning alive. Stewart followed by belting a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall to give the Flames an 8-5 edge.
Beyond the Box Score
- For the second time this year, the Flames hit three home runs in a game. Liberty hit three round-trippers in an 8-6 victory at Duke on Wednesday.
- With two hits in the contest, Betts records his team-leading third multi-hit game of 2023.
- Hertzler records his first win at Liberty in the contest.
- The victory was the 198th in Flames head coach Scott Jackson’s career, leaving him two shy of 200.
Up Next
With its seven-game road swing to start the season complete, Liberty will begin its 2023 home schedule on Wednesday at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Flames will host the Longwood Lancers in their home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Featured in Main Photo: Will Stewart
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertzler, Cole (1-0)
L: HOPKINS, B. (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Keeter, Nathan 1 ; Lazzaro, Jake 1
HR: Betts, Gray 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Stewart, Will 1
RBI: Betts, Gray 2 ; Foster, Cam 2 ; Stewart, Will 3
SH: Betts, Gray 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Betts, Gray 1 ; Castillo, Victor 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; Keeter, Nathan 1 ; Stewart, Will 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1 ; Lazzaro, Jake 2
SB: Castillo, Victor 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1
HBP: Lazzaro, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: ERVES, M. 1
RBI: HOPKINS, B. 1 ; SVETITZ, J. 1 ; KIRKLAND, M. 1 ; CORDOVA, R. 2
SH: TEEL, R. 1 ; ERVES, M. 1
SF: HOPKINS, B. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DUCHARME, D. 1 ; TEEL, R. 2 ; ERVES, M. 2 ; HOOKS, T. 2
CS: CORDOVA, R. 1
HBP: MARTIN, W. 1
