Liberty University
16-18, 0
Kennesaw State
16-17, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Kennesaw State | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Flames Fall to Owls in Game 1 of Doubleheader 5-3
4/15/2023 6:33:27 PM | Baseball
The Kennesaw State Owls outlasted the Liberty Flames 5-3 in game one of an ASUN doubleheader, Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
In a game where hits were at a premium, the host Owls plated three runs in the second inning and then held off the Flames for the victory.
Both starting pitchers worked in the seventh inning. Liberty’s Garrett Gainey pitched 6 1/3 innings, leaving with a runner on second base. Kennesaw State’s Nick Zenga went seven innings.
Liberty right fielder Camden Troyer led all hitters in the game with two hits. He also drove in a run. Left fielder Kane Kepley reached base four times in the contest for Liberty with a single and three walks. He scored two runs.
The Flames drop to 7-7 in the ASUN and 16-18 overall. The loss snaps Liberty’s three-game road winning streak. The Owls improve to 7-7 in conference play and 16-17 overall. With the win, Kennesaw State evens the series at 1-1 and snaps a five-game home losing streak.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (16-18, 7-7 ASUN); Kennesaw State (16-17, 7-7 ASUN)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Stillwell Baseball Stadium)
WP: Nick Zenga (4-3) | LP: Garrett Gainey (4-2) | SV: Agyei Quinichett (2)
Scoring Summary
2nd INNING – KSU – Chirello doubles, Mimbs and Hanson score, 2-0
2nd INNING – KSU – Stills reaches on an error, Chirello scores (unearned), 3-0
3rd INNING – LIBERTY – Troyer singles, Keeter scores, 3-1
3rd INNING – LIBERTY – Hillier grounds into a double play, Kepley scores, 3-2
7th INNING – KSU – Mimbs homers, 4-2
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Kepley scores on a wild pitch, 4-3
8th INNING – KSU – Colina homers, 5-3
Notable Numbers
- Each team had five hits in the contest. Liberty committed the game’s only error.
- The Flames left five men on base. The Owls left three men.
- Gainey takes the loss. The left-hander allowed four runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
- Zenga records the win. He gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out three and walked four.
- Owls reliever Agyei Quinichett picked up his second save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
- No Kennesaw State batter had more than one hit in the game.
Turning Point
Liberty closed to within a run but could not tie the contest in the top of the eighth. With a new Owls pitcher Tyler Franks into the game, Kepley and first baseman Brayden Horton led off the inning with walks. Two batters later, designated hitter Three Hillier walked to load the bases with one out. With catcher Gray Betts at the plate, Kepley scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3 Kennesaw State. On the play, Horton moved to third base. Betts followed by flying out to shallow right field. Horton tried to score the tying run, only to be thrown out at home by Kennesaw State right fielder Brayden Eidson.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Flames turned two double plays in the contest. It is the second time this season that Liberty has had two or more double plays in a game (3 vs. Bryant, March 4).
- Troyer collects his 10th multi-hit game of the season. The outfielder extended his reached base safely streak to 17 games.
- Three Hillier, who served as the Flames designated hitter in game one, extended his reached base safely streak to a team-high 26 consecutive games by walking to load the bases with one out in the eighth.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ZEGNA, Nick (4-3)
L: Gainey, Garrett (4-2)
S: QUINICHETT, Agyei (2)
Batting:
RBI: Troyer, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Keeter, Nathan 1
CS: Lazzaro, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: CHIRELLO, Jackson 1 ; RICHARDSON, Wade 1
HR: COLINA, Nick 1 ; MIMBS, Hudson 1
RBI: COLINA, Nick 1 ; MIMBS, Hudson 1 ; CHIRELLO, Jackson 2
Base Running:
RUNS: COLINA, Nick 1 ; HASSAN, Nick 1 ; MIMBS, Hudson 2 ; CHIRELLO, Jackson 1
HBP: COLINA, Nick 1
