Liberty University
22-25, 12-12
Jacksonville State
22-25, 15-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| LIBERTY | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 1 |
Liberty Erupts for 11 Runs in 6th Inning to Dump Jacksonville State 18-8
5/7/2023 5:45:00 PM | Baseball
Trailing Jacksonville State by six runs, the Liberty Flames exploded for 11 runs in the sixth inning for an 18-8 victory over the Gamecocks in eight innings, Sunday afternoon in an ASUN game at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
With Jacksonville leading 8-2, the Flames sent 17 men to the plate to take a 13-8 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Liberty used four hits, including a grand slam by first baseman Brayden Horton, and took advantage of seven walks and three batters hit by a pitch to post its first double-digit inning since May 22, 2021.
Horton collected three hits in the contest, driving in a career-high six runs and scoring two. His grand slam was his fourth home run of the season.
Catcher Three Hillier and shortstop Cam Foster also homered for the Flames. Hillier had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored in the game. Foster, Liberty's RBI leader, knocked in three runs and scored three runs.
With the victory, Liberty takes the three-game series, 2-1. The Flames even their ASUN record at 12-12 and move to 22-25 overall. Jacksonville State falls to 15-9 in the ASUN and 22-25 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Jacksonville State (22-25, 15-9 ASUN); Liberty (22-25, 12-12 ASUN)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Cole Hertzler (2-2) | LP: Austin Cornelius (0-3)
Scoring Summary
3rd INNING – JSU- Maners doubles, Hernandez and Johnson scores, 2-0
3rd INNING – LIBERTY – Hillier homers, 2-1
4th INNING – JSU – Jackson homers, 3-1
4th INNING – JSU – Johnson walks, Norton scores, 4-1
4th INNING – JSU – Madliak grounds into a double play, Crowe scores, 5-1
4th INNING – JSU – Eaton wild pitch, 6-1
5th INNING – LIBERTY – Foster homers, 6-2
6th INNING – JSU – Johnson flies out, Crowe scores, 7-2
6th INNING – JSU – Madliak doubles, Eaton scores, 8-2
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Simmons scores, 8-3
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Troyer grounds out, Kepley scores, 8-4
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Foster reached on fielder's choice, Horton scores, 8-5
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Hudson hit by pitch, Guy scores, 8-6
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Simmons walks, Foster scores, 8-7
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Kepley walks, Hillier scores, 8-8
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Horton homers, Kepley, Simmons and Hudson score, 12-8
6th INNING – LIBERTY – Foster hit by pitch, Troyer scores, 13-8
7th INNING – LIBERTY – Horton reaches on a fielder's choice, Troyer scores, 14-8
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Hillier singles, Betts scores, 15-8
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Simmons singles, Foster scores, 16-8
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Hilliers scores on a throwing error, 17-8
8th INNING – LIBERTY – Troyer walks, Simmons scores, 18-8
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Jacksonville State, 12-8. Each team made one error.
- The Flames left seven men on base. The Gamecocks left five.
- Liberty third baseman John Simmons had two hits and two RBI and scored two runs in the contest.
- Hillier hit his fifth home run and Foster belted his 10th home run of the season in the game.
- Every batter in the Flames lineup walked at least once in the contest.
- Reliever Cole Hertzler records the win. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits over two innings. He struck out two and walked two.
- Liberty reliever Cole Garrett retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings.
- Jacksonville State reliever Austin Cornelius takes the loss. He gave up four runs on no hits over 1/3 of an inning. He struck out one and walked three batters.
- Gamecocks pitchers combined to walk 12 in the contest.
- Jacksonville State first baseman Derrick Jackson, Jr. hit his seventh home run in the game.
Turning Point
Trailing in the sixth, Simmons and Kepley opened the inning with bases on balls. Horton followed with an RBI single to plate the first run of the uprising. Kepley then scored on a ground out by right fielder Camden Troyer, cutting the Jacksonville State lead to 8-4.
Center fielder Jaylen Guy walked and second baseman Gray Betts was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. After a Gamecocks pitching change, Foster drove in Horton on a fielder's choice to inch Liberty closer at 8-5.
Next batter Hillier walked to load the bases before designated hitter Todd Hudson was hit by a pitch and Simmons and Kepley walked with loaded bases to force in runs to tie the game at 8-8.
Horton followed by blasting the third pitch of his at bat over the right field wall for a grand slam to give Liberty a 12-8 lead.
With the bases loaded and two outs later in the inning, Foster would be hit to force in a run to cap the 11-run inning and push the Flames' advantage to 13-8.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty has won all four of its home ASUN series this season. The Flames are 3-1 on their current homestand.
- The Flames scored 10 or more runs in an inning for the first time since a 12-6 win over Bellarmine on May 22, 2021, at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Liberty scored 10 runs in the seventh inning in the victory.
- Horton records his third three-hit game and 11th multi-hit game of the season. The freshman first baseman has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games. His previous career-high for RBI in a game was four, coming in a 9-7 win at FGCU on March 17.
- Hillier collects his sixth multi-hit game of the season. The catcher has hit a home run in each of his last two games.
- Simmons posted his second multi-hit game of the season. The freshman scored a career-high three runs.
- Foster has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.
- Before the game, Liberty recognized Betts, Garrett, Guy and Jake Lazzaro during Senior Day ceremonies for their contributions to the Flames program.
Next Up
Liberty will wrap up its five-game homestand by hosting the Virginia Tech Hokies, Wednesday at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Featured in Main Photo: Brayden Horton
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertzler, Cole (2-2)
L: Austin Cornelius (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Bear Madliak 1 ; Mason Maners 1 ; Jarrett Eaton 1
HR: Derrick Jackson 1
RBI: Bear Madliak 1 ; Mason Maners 2 ; Derrick Jackson 1 ; Caleb Johnson 2
SF: Caleb Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Javon Hernandez 1 ; Derrick Jackson 1 ; Brennen Norton 1 ; Carson Crowe 2 ; Jarrett Eaton 2 ; Caleb Johnson 1
SB: T.J. Reeves 1 ; Carson Crowe 1
HBP: Javon Hernandez 1 ; Jarrett Eaton 1
Batting:
2B: Troyer, Camden 1
HR: Horton, Brayden 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Hillier, Three 1
RBI: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Horton, Brayden 6 ; Troyer, Camden 2 ; Foster, Cam 3 ; Hillier, Three 2 ; Hudson, Todd 1 ; Simmons, John 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Horton, Brayden 2 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; Guy, Jaylen 1 ; Betts, Gray 1 ; Foster, Cam 3 ; Hillier, Three 3 ; Hudson, Todd 2 ; Simmons, John 3
SB: Guy, Jaylen 2
CS: Guy, Jaylen 1
HBP: Betts, Gray 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Hudson, Todd 1
PO: Guy, Jaylen 1
