Friday, April 19
Bowling Green, Ky.
7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT
Liberty University
17-20, 9-4
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Western Kentucky
27-12, 9-4
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Liberty
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WKU
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WKU Defeats Liberty 6-4 in Series Opener
4/19/2024 10:47:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers slipped by the Liberty Flames 6-4 in their CUSA series opener Friday evening at Nick Denes Field.
With the score tied in the fourth, a three-run home run by shortstop Zayd Brannigan gave the Hilltoppers the lead for good in the contest. The Flames cut their hosts' advantage to one with two runs in the seventh inning, only to see WKU get an insurance run in the bottom of the inning for the final score.
Third baseman Cam Foster had two hits including his sixth home run of the year for Liberty. Teammate Macaddin Dye hit his fifth of the season.
Liberty falls to 9-4 in CUSA and 17-20 overall. WKU moves to 9-4 in CUSA and 27-12 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (17-20, 9-4 CUSA); Western Kentucky (27-12, 9-4 CUSA)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Nick Denes Field)
WP: Jack Bennett (6-2) | LP: Cole Hertzler (5-4) | SV: Lucas Litteral (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Dye homers, Horton scores, 2-0
1st – WKU – Ross homers, Garcia scores, 2-2
4th – WKU – Brannigan homers, Browning and Cavill, 5-2
7th – LIBERTY – Foster homers, 5-3
7th – LIBERTY – Troyer flies out, Simmons scores, 5-4
7th – WKU – Lizama singles, O'Connell scores, 6-4
Notable Numbers
- Each team had five hits in the game. Liberty committed one error.
- The Flames left three men on base. The Hilltoppers left three.
- Eight of the 10 runs scored in the game came by the way of a home run.
- Liberty first baseman John Simmons had two hits and scored a run.
- Flames starting pitcher Cole Hertzler takes the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked four.
- WKU starting pitcher Jack Bennett allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings to pick up the win. He stuck out six and did not walk a batter.
- Toppers reliever Lucas Latteral retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings to record a save. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
- Catcher Camden Ross also hit a home run of WKU.
Beyond the Box Score
- Tonight was the first meeting ever between Liberty and Western Kentucky on the diamond.
- The Hilltoppers and Flames entered the weekend series one game apart in the CUSA standings.
- Foster recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the season, while Simmons posted his second.
- With his home run, Dye now leads the Flames with 33 RBI.
- Hertzler had won four straight contests and was 4-0 against CUSA opponents entering tonight's game.
Up Next
The Flames and Hilltoppers will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of their three-game series at Nick Denes Field. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST.
With the score tied in the fourth, a three-run home run by shortstop Zayd Brannigan gave the Hilltoppers the lead for good in the contest. The Flames cut their hosts' advantage to one with two runs in the seventh inning, only to see WKU get an insurance run in the bottom of the inning for the final score.
Third baseman Cam Foster had two hits including his sixth home run of the year for Liberty. Teammate Macaddin Dye hit his fifth of the season.
Liberty falls to 9-4 in CUSA and 17-20 overall. WKU moves to 9-4 in CUSA and 27-12 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (17-20, 9-4 CUSA); Western Kentucky (27-12, 9-4 CUSA)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Nick Denes Field)
WP: Jack Bennett (6-2) | LP: Cole Hertzler (5-4) | SV: Lucas Litteral (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Dye homers, Horton scores, 2-0
1st – WKU – Ross homers, Garcia scores, 2-2
4th – WKU – Brannigan homers, Browning and Cavill, 5-2
7th – LIBERTY – Foster homers, 5-3
7th – LIBERTY – Troyer flies out, Simmons scores, 5-4
7th – WKU – Lizama singles, O'Connell scores, 6-4
Notable Numbers
- Each team had five hits in the game. Liberty committed one error.
- The Flames left three men on base. The Hilltoppers left three.
- Eight of the 10 runs scored in the game came by the way of a home run.
- Liberty first baseman John Simmons had two hits and scored a run.
- Flames starting pitcher Cole Hertzler takes the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked four.
- WKU starting pitcher Jack Bennett allowed four runs on five hits over seven innings to pick up the win. He stuck out six and did not walk a batter.
- Toppers reliever Lucas Latteral retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings to record a save. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
- Catcher Camden Ross also hit a home run of WKU.
Beyond the Box Score
- Tonight was the first meeting ever between Liberty and Western Kentucky on the diamond.
- The Hilltoppers and Flames entered the weekend series one game apart in the CUSA standings.
- Foster recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the season, while Simmons posted his second.
- With his home run, Dye now leads the Flames with 33 RBI.
- Hertzler had won four straight contests and was 4-0 against CUSA opponents entering tonight's game.
Up Next
The Flames and Hilltoppers will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of their three-game series at Nick Denes Field. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BENNETT, Jack (6-2)
L: Hertzler, Cole (5-4)
S: LITTERAL, Lucas (2)
Batting:
3B: Simmons, John 1
HR: Dye, Macaddin 1 ; Foster, Cam 1
RBI: Dye, Macaddin 2 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1
SF: Troyer, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Horton, Brayden 1 ; Dye, Macaddin 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Simmons, John 1
HBP: Horton, Brayden 1 ; Dye, Macaddin 1
Batting:
2B: O'CONNELL, Dylan 1
HR: ROSS, Camden 1 ; BRANNIGAN, Zayd 1
RBI: LIZAMA, Ethan 1 ; ROSS, Camden 2 ; BRANNIGAN, Zayd 3
SH: BARAN, Joey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GARCIA, Cristian 1 ; O'CONNELL, Dylan 1 ; ROSS, Camden 1 ; CAVILL, Blake 1 ; BROWNING, Brady 1 ; BRANNIGAN, Zayd 1
SB: O'CONNELL, Dylan 1
CS: LIZAMA, Ethan 1 ; BARAN, Joey 1
HBP: BARAN, Joey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
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RHP/INF
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