Liberty University
15-17
Virginia Tech
18-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Liberty Tops Virginia Tech 7-3
4/11/2023 11:52:38 PM | Baseball
The Liberty Flames plated four runs in the seventh inning to break open a one-run game to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies 7-3, Tuesday evening at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park.
Leading by one, the Flames struck for four runs on five hits to pull away from the Hokies. The Liberty bullpen held Virginia Tech in check the rest of the way to close out the victory.
The Flames never trailed in the contest, striking for three runs in the first inning.
Shortstop Jake Lazzaro had two hits and scored a run, and Gray Betts drove in a season-high three runs for the Flames.
Liberty moves to 15-17 overall. Virginia Tech falls to 18-12.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (15-17); Virginia Tech (18-12)
Location: Blacksburg, Va. (English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park)
WP: Trey Cooper (1-2) | LP: Grant Umberger (2-1)
 Scoring Summary
1st INNING – LIBERTY - Betts flies out, Kepley scores, 1-0
1st INNING – LIBERTY - Hillier doubles, Troyer and Hillier score, 3-0
2nd INNING – VT - Jones reaches on an error, Michel scores, 3-1
5th INNING – VT - DeMartini flies out, Jones scores, 3-2
7th INNING – LIBERTY - Foster scores on a passed ball, 4-2
7th INNING – LIBERTY - Guy singles, Lazzaro scores, 5-2
7th INNING – LIBERTY - Betts singles, Troyer and Kepley score, 7-2
7th INNING – VT – Hurley homers, 7-3
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Virginia Tech, 8-6. The Flames committed the game’s lone error.
- The Flames left seven men on base. The Hokies left 11.
- Six pitchers combined to allow three runs on six hits over the nine innings for Liberty. They combined to strike out 11 and walk four.
- Left-hander Trey Cooper, the Flames starting pitcher, records the win on a staff day. No Liberty pitcher threw more than two innings in the contest. Cooper allowed one unearned run on one hit over the first two innings. He struck out three and walked one.
- Virginia Tech was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the game.
- Hokies starting pitcher Grant Umberger took the loss. He gave up three runs on two hits over 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one and walked two.
- Center fielder Jack Hurley hit his 12th home run of the season for Virginia Tech.
Turning Point
Up 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Liberty plated four runs to push its advantage to five. Third baseman Cam Foster led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a bunt single by Lazzaro. With Kane Kepley at the plate, a passed ball allowed Foster to score for a 4-2 edge.
Two batters later, right fielder Camden Troyer singled to load the bases. Center fielder Jaylen Guy followed with a run-scoring single to center and Betts ripped a two-run single past the Hokies second baseman to give Liberty a 7-2 lead they did not relinquish.
Beyond the Box Score
- With two hits in the contest, Lazzaro collects his 10th multi-hit game of 2023, tying for the team lead with Guy.
- For the first time this season, Betts knocks in more than two runs in a game.
- Guy had an RBI single in the Liberty’s four-run seventh to push his hitting streak to a season-high seven games.
- Catcher Three Hillier extended his reached base safely streak to a team-high 24 consecutive games with a two-run double in the first inning.
- Liberty reliever Trey Carter pitched two scoreless innings in the contest. The right-hander has not allowed a run in his last five appearances (11 2/3 innings).
Next Up
Liberty steps back into ASUN Conference play with a three-game series against the Kennesaw State Owls this weekend. The series gets underway Friday at Stillwell Baseball Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Featured in Main Photo: Gray Betts
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cooper, Trey (1-2)
L: Grant Umberger (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Hillier, Three 1 ; Foster, Cam 1
RBI: Guy, Jaylen 1 ; Betts, Gray 3 ; Hillier, Three 2
SH: Kepley, Kane 1
SF: Betts, Gray 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Horton, Brayden 1 ; Troyer, Camden 2 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Lazzaro, Jake 1
SB: Betts, Gray 2
HBP: Betts, Gray 1
Batting:
2B: Carson Jones 1
HR: Jack Hurley 1
RBI: Jack Hurley 1 ; Carson DeMartini 1
SF: Carson DeMartini 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carson Jones 1 ; Jack Hurley 1 ; Garrett Michel 1
HBP: Chris Cannizzaro 1 ; Jack Hurley 1 ; Garrett Michel 1
