Friday, April 12
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
16-17, 8-2
7
vs
2
Jacksonville State
11-22, 2-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Jacksonville State
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
9
1
Liberty
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
3
X
7
13
0
Hertzler, Liberty Top Jacksonville State in Series Opener 7-2
4/12/2024 10:30:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty right-hander Cole Hertzler handcuffed Jacksonville State as the Flames turned back the Gamecocks 7-2 Friday in the opener of their CUSA series at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Hertzler allowed two runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth consecutive start. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked three.
Flames left fielder Brayden Horton had two hits and four RBI in the contest. Center fielder Kane Kepley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Liberty.
The Flames broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the sixth inning.
Liberty improves to 8-2 in CUSA play and 16-17 overall. Jacksonville State falls to 2-8 in CUSA and 11-22 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Jacksonville State (11-22, 2-8 CUSA); Liberty (16-17, 8-2 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Cole Hertzler (5-3) | LP: Will Baker (2-3) | SV: Ben Blair (2)
Scoring Summary
3rd – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Troyer score, 1-0
5th – JSU – Norton scores on a wild pitch, 1-1
6th – LIBERTY – Troyer singles, Foster scores, 2-1
6th – LIBERTY – Kepley singles, Hudson scores, 3-1
6th – LIBERTY – Horton reaches on fielder's choice, Troyer scores, 4-1
7th – JSU – Johnson doubles, Collins scores, 4-2
8th – LIBERTY – Marsh doubles, Troyer scores, 5-2
8th – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Marsh and Kepley score, 7-2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Jacksonville, 13-9, in the contest. The Gamecocks committed the game's only error.
- Shortstop Tanner Marsh and third baseman Cam Foster also had two hits in the contest for the Flames.
- Garrett McLaughlin and Ben Blair did not allow a hit over the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of Hertzler.
- Blair earned his second save of the season. The freshman pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters.
- Jacksonville State starting pitcher Will Baker takes the loss. He gave up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two batters.
- Third baseman Brennen Norton had three hits and scored a run for the Gamecocks.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty and Jacksonville State are meeting as conference opponents for the second consecutive season at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. However, each year, the two teams were members of different conferences as last year both were in the ASUN Conference.
- The Flames were 7-for-17 (.412) with runners in scoring position in the contest.
- Hertzler's 10 strikeouts are a career-high for the junior right-hander. His previous high was nine which he reached twice during the 2024 season. Hertzler leads the Flames and is currently second in CUSA with 58 strikeouts on the season.
- Horton has at least one hit in each of his last 11 games, the longest hitting streak for a Flame this season. With two hits, the outfielder records his eighth multi-hit game of the season. In 10 CUSA games, Horton has hit .515 with 18 RBI.
- Foster recorded his 10th multi-hit game of the season, while Marsh posted his 11th.
Up Next
Liberty and Jacksonville State will meet again tomorrow afternoon in the middle game of their three-game weekend series at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Hertzler allowed two runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth consecutive start. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked three.
Flames left fielder Brayden Horton had two hits and four RBI in the contest. Center fielder Kane Kepley went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Liberty.
The Flames broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the sixth inning.
Liberty improves to 8-2 in CUSA play and 16-17 overall. Jacksonville State falls to 2-8 in CUSA and 11-22 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Jacksonville State (11-22, 2-8 CUSA); Liberty (16-17, 8-2 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Cole Hertzler (5-3) | LP: Will Baker (2-3) | SV: Ben Blair (2)
Scoring Summary
3rd – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Troyer score, 1-0
5th – JSU – Norton scores on a wild pitch, 1-1
6th – LIBERTY – Troyer singles, Foster scores, 2-1
6th – LIBERTY – Kepley singles, Hudson scores, 3-1
6th – LIBERTY – Horton reaches on fielder's choice, Troyer scores, 4-1
7th – JSU – Johnson doubles, Collins scores, 4-2
8th – LIBERTY – Marsh doubles, Troyer scores, 5-2
8th – LIBERTY – Horton singles, Marsh and Kepley score, 7-2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Jacksonville, 13-9, in the contest. The Gamecocks committed the game's only error.
- Shortstop Tanner Marsh and third baseman Cam Foster also had two hits in the contest for the Flames.
- Garrett McLaughlin and Ben Blair did not allow a hit over the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of Hertzler.
- Blair earned his second save of the season. The freshman pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters.
- Jacksonville State starting pitcher Will Baker takes the loss. He gave up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two batters.
- Third baseman Brennen Norton had three hits and scored a run for the Gamecocks.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty and Jacksonville State are meeting as conference opponents for the second consecutive season at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. However, each year, the two teams were members of different conferences as last year both were in the ASUN Conference.
- The Flames were 7-for-17 (.412) with runners in scoring position in the contest.
- Hertzler's 10 strikeouts are a career-high for the junior right-hander. His previous high was nine which he reached twice during the 2024 season. Hertzler leads the Flames and is currently second in CUSA with 58 strikeouts on the season.
- Horton has at least one hit in each of his last 11 games, the longest hitting streak for a Flame this season. With two hits, the outfielder records his eighth multi-hit game of the season. In 10 CUSA games, Horton has hit .515 with 18 RBI.
- Foster recorded his 10th multi-hit game of the season, while Marsh posted his 11th.
Up Next
Liberty and Jacksonville State will meet again tomorrow afternoon in the middle game of their three-game weekend series at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertzler, Cole (5-3)
L: BAKER, Will (2-3)
S: Blair, Ben (2)
Batting:
2B: JOHNSON, Caleb 1
RBI: JOHNSON, Caleb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: NORTON, Brennen 1 ; COLLINS, Drew 1
CS: NORTON, Brennen 1 ; YOUNG, Gabe 1
HBP: MADLIAK, Bear 1 ; JACKSON, Derrick 1
Batting:
2B: Marsh, Tanner 1
RBI: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Horton, Brayden 4 ; Troyer, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Hudson, Todd 1 ; Troyer, Camden 3
HBP: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP/INF
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RHP
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