Friday, March 22
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM CT
Liberty University
9-12, 0
11
at
6
Middle Tennessee
9-11, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 2 |
| Middle Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 1 |
Liberty Powers Past MTSU 11-6 for 1st CUSA Win
3/22/2024 6:53:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Right fielder Brayden Horton's grand slam highlighted a seven-run seventh inning as the Liberty Flames dumped the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 11-6 to win their first-ever Conference USA game Friday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
With the Flames up 4-2 and bases loaded, Horton started Liberty's scoring outburst by blasting his second home run of the season to the deepest part of the park, straight away center field, for an 8-2 lead. Center fielder Kane Kepley followed with his third home run of the season as the Flames sent 12 men to the plate in the inning.
Kepley finished the day with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Tanner Marsh joined Kepley with two hits. He scored twice in the game.
Flames right-hander Cole Hertzler allowed two runs on five hits over the first six innings to record the win. He struck out a career-high nine and walked two.
Liberty moves to 1-0 in CUSA play and 9-12 overall. Middle Tennessee falls to 1-3 in CUSA action and 9-11 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (9-12, 1-0 CUSA); Middle Tennessee (9-11, 1-3 CUSA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Reese Smith Jr. Field)
WP: Cole Hertzler (2-3) | LP: James Sells (3-3)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Troyer doubles, Marsh and Kepley score, 2-0
4th – MTSU – Galloway homers, 2-1
5th – MTSU – Rutter homers, 2-2
6th – LIBERTY – Foster singles, McClellin scores, 3-2
6th – LIBERTY – Kepley flies out, Hudson scores, 4-2
7th – LIBERTY – Horton homers, Foster, McClellin and Troyer score, 8-2
7th – LIBERTY – Kepley homers, 9-2
7th – LIBERTY – Sweatt doubles, Marsh scored, 10-2
7th – LIBERTY – Sweatt scores on a wild pitch, 11-2
7th – MTSU – Snider homers, Badylack scores, 11-4
7th – MTSU – Rutter homers, 11-5
9th – MTSU – Jennings homers, 11-6
Notable Numbers
- Liberty held a 12-10 advantage in hits over Middle Tennessee in the contest.
- The Flames committed two errors. The Blue Raiders made one.
- Liberty left 14 men on base. MTSU left eight.
- Four Flames had two hits in the game. Joining Kepley and Marsh were third baseman Cameron Foster and designated hitter Todd Hudson. Both of Hudson's hits were doubles.
- Blue Raiders starting pitcher James Sells takes the loss. He gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
- MTSU catcher Briggs Rutter hit two home runs. He was the only Blue Raider with two hits in the game.
- The Blue Raiders hit four home runs in the game. Besides Rutter's two, third baseman Gabe Jennings and right fielder Eston Snider also hit home runs.
Beyond the Box Score
- Besides being Liberty's first CUSA game, it was also the first-ever meeting between the Liberty and Middle Tennessee on the diamond.
- Horton's grand slam was the second of the sophomore's career. He hit a grand slam in an 18-8 win over Jacksonville State on May 7, 2023.
- Horton and Kepley become the first Liberty players to hit back-to-back home runs in a game since Jake Lazzaro and Gray Betts did it in an 8-6 win over Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Feb. 22, 2023.
- Kepley records a multi-hit game for the third consecutive game. The outfielder's multi-hit contest was his eighth of the season. He ties Aidan Sweatt for the team lead.
- With two hits, Marsh collects his sixth multi-hit game of 2024. Hudson recorded his third multi-hit game of the year.
- Foster also records his third straight multi-hit game. The third baseman now has five multi-hit games in 2024.
- Hertzler eclipses his previous career-high with nine strikeouts in the game. The right-hander's previous high was eight in a 15-12 win at Eastern Kentucky on May 13, 2023.
- Maccadin Dye doubled in the fifth inning. The Liberty catcher has at least one hit in each of the last nine games. It is the longest hitting streak for a Flame this season.
Up Next
The Flames and the Blue Raiders will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST.
With the Flames up 4-2 and bases loaded, Horton started Liberty's scoring outburst by blasting his second home run of the season to the deepest part of the park, straight away center field, for an 8-2 lead. Center fielder Kane Kepley followed with his third home run of the season as the Flames sent 12 men to the plate in the inning.
Kepley finished the day with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Tanner Marsh joined Kepley with two hits. He scored twice in the game.
Flames right-hander Cole Hertzler allowed two runs on five hits over the first six innings to record the win. He struck out a career-high nine and walked two.
Liberty moves to 1-0 in CUSA play and 9-12 overall. Middle Tennessee falls to 1-3 in CUSA action and 9-11 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (9-12, 1-0 CUSA); Middle Tennessee (9-11, 1-3 CUSA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Reese Smith Jr. Field)
WP: Cole Hertzler (2-3) | LP: James Sells (3-3)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Troyer doubles, Marsh and Kepley score, 2-0
4th – MTSU – Galloway homers, 2-1
5th – MTSU – Rutter homers, 2-2
6th – LIBERTY – Foster singles, McClellin scores, 3-2
6th – LIBERTY – Kepley flies out, Hudson scores, 4-2
7th – LIBERTY – Horton homers, Foster, McClellin and Troyer score, 8-2
7th – LIBERTY – Kepley homers, 9-2
7th – LIBERTY – Sweatt doubles, Marsh scored, 10-2
7th – LIBERTY – Sweatt scores on a wild pitch, 11-2
7th – MTSU – Snider homers, Badylack scores, 11-4
7th – MTSU – Rutter homers, 11-5
9th – MTSU – Jennings homers, 11-6
Notable Numbers
- Liberty held a 12-10 advantage in hits over Middle Tennessee in the contest.
- The Flames committed two errors. The Blue Raiders made one.
- Liberty left 14 men on base. MTSU left eight.
- Four Flames had two hits in the game. Joining Kepley and Marsh were third baseman Cameron Foster and designated hitter Todd Hudson. Both of Hudson's hits were doubles.
- Blue Raiders starting pitcher James Sells takes the loss. He gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
- MTSU catcher Briggs Rutter hit two home runs. He was the only Blue Raider with two hits in the game.
- The Blue Raiders hit four home runs in the game. Besides Rutter's two, third baseman Gabe Jennings and right fielder Eston Snider also hit home runs.
Beyond the Box Score
- Besides being Liberty's first CUSA game, it was also the first-ever meeting between the Liberty and Middle Tennessee on the diamond.
- Horton's grand slam was the second of the sophomore's career. He hit a grand slam in an 18-8 win over Jacksonville State on May 7, 2023.
- Horton and Kepley become the first Liberty players to hit back-to-back home runs in a game since Jake Lazzaro and Gray Betts did it in an 8-6 win over Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Feb. 22, 2023.
- Kepley records a multi-hit game for the third consecutive game. The outfielder's multi-hit contest was his eighth of the season. He ties Aidan Sweatt for the team lead.
- With two hits, Marsh collects his sixth multi-hit game of 2024. Hudson recorded his third multi-hit game of the year.
- Foster also records his third straight multi-hit game. The third baseman now has five multi-hit games in 2024.
- Hertzler eclipses his previous career-high with nine strikeouts in the game. The right-hander's previous high was eight in a 15-12 win at Eastern Kentucky on May 13, 2023.
- Maccadin Dye doubled in the fifth inning. The Liberty catcher has at least one hit in each of the last nine games. It is the longest hitting streak for a Flame this season.
Up Next
The Flames and the Blue Raiders will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CST.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertzler, Cole (2-3)
L: Sells, James (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Sweatt, Aidan 1 ; Dye, Macaddin 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; Hudson, Todd 2
HR: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Horton, Brayden 1
RBI: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Sweatt, Aidan 1 ; Troyer, Camden 2 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Horton, Brayden 4
SH: Keeter, Nathan 1
SF: Kepley, Kane 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Marsh, Tanner 2 ; Sweatt, Aidan 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; McClellin, Brian 2 ; Hudson, Todd 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Horton, Brayden 1
SB: Sweatt, Aidan 2 ; Horton, Brayden 1
CS: Troyer, Camden 1
HBP: Troyer, Camden 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Horton, Brayden 2
Batting:
2B: Vinson, Cale 1
HR: Jennings, Gabe 1 ; Snider, Eston 1 ; Rutter, Briggs 2 ; Galloway, Jackson 1
RBI: Jennings, Gabe 1 ; Snider, Eston 2 ; Rutter, Briggs 2 ; Galloway, Jackson 1
SH: Jennings, Gabe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jennings, Gabe 1 ; Snider, Eston 1 ; Rutter, Briggs 2 ; Galloway, Jackson 1 ; Badylak, Clay 1
SB: Galloway, Jackson 1 ; Vinson, Luke 1
CS: Vinson, Luke 1
HBP: Jennings, Gabe 1 ; Snider, Eston 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
SS
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballCoach LeCroy Talks About The JSU Series
Monday, April 13
Ben Blair: By the Numbers
Wednesday, April 08
Coach LeCroy Recaps The FIU Series & Looks Ahead To NC State & WKU
Tuesday, March 31
Coach LeCroy Gives An Update On The Baseball Season
Monday, March 16