Liberty University
6-5
Bryant
2-7
Liberty Falls to Bryant in Series Finale
3/5/2023 6:13:59 PM | Baseball
The Bryant Bulldogs snapped the Liberty Flames’ four-game winning streak with an 8-2 win in their series finale, Sunday afternoon at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The Flames had won a season-high four straight games entering the contest, including a doubleheader sweep of the Bulldogs yesterday.
Bryant broke a 2-2 in the seventh inning with four runs to take the lead.
Liberty drops a home game for the first time in 2023 and falls to 6-5 overall. Bryant moves to 2-7.
Box Score Highlights Records: Bryant (2-7); Liberty (6-5)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Brett Wichrowski (1-0) | LP: Trey Cooper (0-1)
Scoring Summary5th INNING – Barnum single, Hosmer and Phinney scored, 2-0
5th INNING – Guy doubles, Simmons scored, 2-1
6th INNING – Castillo doubles, Betts scored, 2-2
7th INNING – Hosmer homered, 3-2
7th INNING – Gustin singled, Noriega (unearned) and Dulin (unearned) score, 5-2
7th INNING – Schaub single, Gustin scores (unearned), 6-2
8th INNING – Smith triples, Noriega and Hosmer score, 8-2
Notable Numbers- Bryant outhit Liberty, 9-7. The Flames made the game’s only error.
- Liberty left six men on base. Bryant left five men on base.
- No Flame had more than one hit in the contest.
- Flames reliever Trey Cooper takes the loss. The left-hander allowed four runs, one earned, on four hits over 1 2/3 innings.
- Liberty starting pitcher Mikey Tepper gave up two runs on three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.
- Bryant reliever Brett Wichrowski records the win. He did not allow a run over the final 3 1/3 innings. He gave up one, striking out six and walking two.
- Bulldogs third baseman John Hosmer went 3-for-3 with a walk. He hit his first home run of the season and scored three times.
Turning PointAfter Liberty tied the game on designated hitter Victor Castillo’s double in the bottom of the sixth, Bryant took the lead for good in the contest in the seventh. Hosmer led off the inning with his first home run of the year to give Bryant a 3-2 edge.
Later in the inning, the Bulldogs appeared to have to bounce into an inning-ending double play. However, all runners were safe on a fielding miscue by the Flames. Two batters later, second baseman Jake Gustin popped a ball into shallow center field with two outs. Two Liberty fielders collided in an attempt to catch the ball, letting the drop for a two-run single and a 5-2 advantage. Right fielder Brian Schaub followed with a single to score Gustin for a 6-2 lead.
Beyond the Box Score- Liberty falls for the first time at home in 2023. This season, the Flames are 3-1 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
- With an RBI double in the sixth, designated hitter Castillo has a hit in four consecutive games.
- Flames second baseman John Simmons singled in the contest. The freshman has reached base in six consecutive games.
Next UpLiberty will wrap up its five-game homestand when its hosts the VCU Rams on Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Featured in Main Photo: Mikey Tepper
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WICHROWSKI, Brett (1-0)
L: Cooper, Trey (0-1)
Batting:
2B: HOSMER, John 2 ; DULIN, Caden 1
3B: SMITH, Derek 1
HR: HOSMER, John 1
RBI: SMITH, Derek 2 ; GUSTIN, Jake 2 ; SCHAUB, Brian 1 ; HOSMER, John 1 ; BARNUM, Lewis 2
Base Running:
RUNS: NORIEGA, Gavin 2 ; GUSTIN, Jake 1 ; PHINNEY, Jackson 1 ; HOSMER, John 3 ; DULIN, Caden 1
CS: BARNUM, Lewis 1
HBP: PETOSA, Carmine 2
Batting:
2B: Castillo, Victor 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1
RBI: Castillo, Victor 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Betts, Gray 1 ; Simmons, John 1
CS: Guy, Jaylen 1
