North Florida Drops Liberty 8-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Florida	5	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	10	3
LIBERTY	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	4	1

North Florida

LIBERTY

Behind right-hander Dominick Madonna, the North Florida Ospreys downed the Liberty Flames 8-3 in an ASUN Conference game, Saturday at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The Ospreys led from start to finish, scoring five runs in the first inning en route to evening the series at 1-1.

Madonna went the distance, allowing three runs on four hits over nine innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Liberty loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh against Madonna. However, the right-hander avoided the big inning, limiting the Flames to one run.

The Flames fall to 9-8 in ASUN Conference play and 18-20 overall. North Florida improves to 8-9 in the ASUN and 22-17 overall. The Ospreys have won five of their last six games.

Box Score Highlights

Records: North Florida (22-17, 8-9 ASUN): Liberty (18-20, 9-8 ASUN)

Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)

WP: Dominick Madonna (6-2) | LP: Garrett Gainey (4-3)

Scoring Summary

1^st INNING – UNF - Reich walks, Brinling scores, 1-0

1^st INNING – UNF – Nichols homers, Reich, Lodise and Runnels score, 5-0

1^st INNING – LIBERTY – Troyer reaches on a fielding error, Kepley scores, 5-1

1^st INNING – LIBERTY – Guy flies out, Horton scores (unearned), 5-2

2^nd INNING – UNF – Lodise reaches on fielder’s choice, Sweatt scores, 6-2

2^nd INNING – UNF – Brinling scores on a wild pitch, 7-2

4^th INNING – UNF – Lodise singles, Brinling scores, 8-2

7^th INNING – UNF – Lazzaro flies out, Betts scores, 8-3

Notable Numbers

- North Florida outhit Liberty in the contest, 10-4.

- The Ospreys committed three errors. The Flames made one.

- Liberty left six men on base. North Florida left 11.

- No Flame had more than one hit in the game.

- Liberty walked nine batters in the contest.

- Flames starting pitcher Garrett Gainey takes the loss. The left-hander gave up five runs on two hits in the first inning. He walked four.

- Liberty reliever Cole Garrett pitched five scoreless innings. He struck out two and walked two.

- Right fielder Cherokee Nichols had two hits, one a grand slam, for North Florida.

- UNF shortstop Alex Lodise recorded three hits, had two RBI and scored a run.

Turning Point

Trailing 8-2, Liberty tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Second baseman Gray Betts walked, and catcher Three Hillier reached on a throwing error by Madonna. The next batter, designated hitter Victor Castillo, also walked to load the bases.

However, Madonna was able to prevent the Flames’ comeback. After the next Liberty hitter struck out for the first out of the frame, center fielder Jaylen Guy lined a fly ball to left field, scoring Betts to cut the Ospreys’ lead to what proved to be the final of 8-3. Left fielder Kane Kepley then flew out to end the Liberty threat.

Beyond the Box Score

- North Florida wins its first in program history in Lynchburg. The Flames had won the previous seven games between the two teams in Lynchburg.

- Hillier singled in the ninth inning to extend his reached base safely streak to a team-high 30 consecutive games.

- Garrett pitched five innings, a new career-high for the senior. It surpasses his previous high of four innings at Lipscomb on May 26 of this season.

Next Up

Liberty and North Florida will wrap up their three-game series at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium tomorrow. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Featured in Main Photo: Cole Garrett

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Team Stats

Kepley Kane

Horton Brayden

Hillier Three

Castillo Victor