Lipscomb Slips by Liberty 8-7

After Liberty scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a one-run lead, the Lipscomb Bison answered with three in the bottom of the seventh en route to an 8-7 victory over the Flames, Saturday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field.

Liberty took leads in the top of an inning twice in the contest, only to see Lipscomb regain the lead back in the bottom of the inning. After the Flames broke up a scoreless game with three in the top of the sixth inning, the Bisons struck for five in the bottom of the inning for a 5-3 advantage. In the seventh, Liberty plated three in the top of the frame for a 6-5 edge before Lipscomb answered with three in the home half of the inning for an 8-6 lead.

The Flames had the tying run on second with two away in the ninth, but the Bisons held on for the win.

Flames center fielder Jaylen Guy and first baseman Brayden Horton each went 3-for-4, doubled and hit a home run in the game. Guy hit a three-run home run and scored twice. Horton hit a solo home run, had two RBI and scored three times.

Liberty falls to 3-5 in the ASUN and 11-15 overall. Lipscomb moves to 6-2 in conference and 11-15 overall. The Bisons have won each of the first two games in the series by one run.

Box Score Highlights

Records: Liberty (11-15, 3-5 ASUN); Lipscomb (11-15, 6-2)

Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Ken Dugan Field)

WP: Ethan Smith (1-0) | LP: Cole Hertzler (1-1) | SV: Hayden Frank (1)

Scoring Summary

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Troyer scores, 1-0

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Lazzaro grounds out with a bunt, Horton scores, 2-0

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Foster singles, Guy scores, 3-0

6^th INNING – LIPSCOMB – Vergara homers, Ketchup scores, 3-2

6^th INNING – LIPSCOMB – Berg singles, Willhotte and Lundgrin score, 4-3

6^th INNING – LIPSCOMB – Lee reaches on a fielder’s choice, Kelly scores, 5-3

7^th INNING – LIBERTY – Guy homers, Hillier and Horton score, 6-5

7^th INNING – LIPSCOMB – Lundgrin doubles, Vergara scores, 6-6

7^th INNING – LIPSCOMB – Kelly homers, Lundgrin scores, 8-6

9th INNING - LIBERTY - Horton homers, 8-7

Notable Numbers

- Liberty outhit Lipscomb, 9-7. Neither team committed an error.

- Liberty left eight men on base. Lipscomb left four men.

- Guy and Horton led all hitters in the game with three hits apiece. Guy’s home run was his first of the year, while Horton’s home run was his second.

- Liberty reliever Cole Hertzler takes the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs on two hits over an inning of relief. He walked three batters.

- Flames starting pitcher Garrett Gainey allowed two runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He did not allow a run over the first five innings. He struck out three and walked three.

- Lipscomb reliever Ethan Smith records the win. He gave up three runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

- Bisons reliever Hayden Frank picked up a save. He allowed one run over the final two innings. He struck out one.

- Lipscomb starter Braydon Tucker pitched five scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, striking out five and walking three.

- Center fielder Alex Vergara hit his eighth home run of the season and catcher Austin Kelly connected for his eighth in the contest.

Turning Point

Liberty cut its deficit to one run with one out in the ninth. Horton hit a solo home run over the right field wall to trim Lipscomb’s deficit to 8-7. Two batters later, Guy doubled off the wall in left field with two out to move the tying run into scoring position. Shortstop Jake Lazzaro battled Frank fouling off several two-strike pitches before popping out to end the game.

Beyond the Box Score

- Guy records three hits in a game for the third time this season. The outfielder, who sat out last season due to injury, hits his first home run since belting a grand slam in Liberty’s 15-4 win over Duke at the NCAA Knoxville, Tenn. Regional on June 6, 2021.

- Horton collects his second three-hit game of 2023. The freshman has driven in at least one run in nine of the last 10 games.

- Flames right fielder Camden Troyer doubled and scored a run in the game. He has had at least one hit in each of the last nine games, the longest hitting streak of any Liberty player this season.

- Catcher Three Hillier walked in the contest to extend his reached base safely streak to a team-high 18 consecutive games.

Next Up

Liberty and Lipscomb will finish their three-game ASUN series at Ken Dugan Field tomorrow afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Brayden Horton

Jaylen Guy

Gray Betts

Camden Troyer