Liberty Ready for Weekend Series at Samford
4/25/2024 8:03:00 PM | Baseball
Series Coverage
Quick Hits
- Liberty at Samford (Joe Lee Griffin Field)
- First pitch: Friday at 7 p.m. EST/6Â p.m. CST; Saturday at 6 p.m. EST/5 p.m.CST/Sunday at 12 p.m. CST/1 p.m. EST
- TV:Â ESPN+Â
- Radio:Â LFSN Radio
Quick Hits
• Liberty finishes its longest road swing of the season with its first-ever visit to Samford this weekend. The contests with the Bulldogs will be the final three of eight consecutive road games for the Flames.
• Liberty takes a weekend off from CUSA play. The Flames are currently in fourth in the CUSA standings with a 9-6 record. Liberty has three CUSA series to play in the regular season.
• Liberty and Samford have never met on the diamond in their programs' histories. The Bulldogs have a 26-14 overall record and lead the Southern Conference with a 10-2 mark. Samford is 18-6 at home this season.
• Pitcher Garrett McLaughlin has appeared in six out of the last 10 Liberty games, allowing one run over 9 2/3 innings. The junior enters the weekend with a 1-0 record and a 2.89 ERA over 18 2/3 innings in 15 appearances this season.
• Head Coach Scott Jackson is in his eighth season at Liberty. Jackson has led the Flames to a 239-170 (.584) record and three NCAA Regional appearances, the most of any coach in program history.
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• Liberty takes a weekend off from CUSA play. The Flames are currently in fourth in the CUSA standings with a 9-6 record. Liberty has three CUSA series to play in the regular season.
• Liberty and Samford have never met on the diamond in their programs' histories. The Bulldogs have a 26-14 overall record and lead the Southern Conference with a 10-2 mark. Samford is 18-6 at home this season.
• Pitcher Garrett McLaughlin has appeared in six out of the last 10 Liberty games, allowing one run over 9 2/3 innings. The junior enters the weekend with a 1-0 record and a 2.89 ERA over 18 2/3 innings in 15 appearances this season.
• Head Coach Scott Jackson is in his eighth season at Liberty. Jackson has led the Flames to a 239-170 (.584) record and three NCAA Regional appearances, the most of any coach in program history.
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Go Johnny Go!
• John Simmons started the last six games at first base and hit .571 (8-for-14) during the span. Four of his eight hits have been for extra bases (1 double, 2 triples and a home run).
• During the stretch, he has recorded three multi-hit games. In addition, he has at least one hit in each of the last five games.
• In 11 starts at first base, Simmons has hit .385. In 26 at bats, he has 10 hits, six for extra bases (two doubles, two triples and two home runs) with seven RBI and seven
runs.
• For the season, the infielder has batted .385 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored in 23 games. Eight of 15 hits are for extra bases. Simmons has three doubles, two triples
and three home runs.
Highlight Hertzler
• Cole Hertzler has been rather successful since the start of CUSA play. The right-hander has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.69 ERA over 31 2/3 innings.
• Entering the weekend, the right-hander has a 5-4 record with a 3.98 ERA over 54 1/3 innings in 10 appearances, nine of which were starts. He has struck out 64, walked 24 and is
holding opposing hitters to a .239 batting average.
• Currently, Hertzler is fifth in CUSA in ERA, fourth in innings pitched, third in batters struck out and sixth in opponent batting average.
• On April 12, the right-hander set a new career-high for strikeouts in Liberty's 7-2 victory over Jacksonville State.
Hertzler struck out a career-high 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings in the contest.
• John Simmons started the last six games at first base and hit .571 (8-for-14) during the span. Four of his eight hits have been for extra bases (1 double, 2 triples and a home run).
• During the stretch, he has recorded three multi-hit games. In addition, he has at least one hit in each of the last five games.
• In 11 starts at first base, Simmons has hit .385. In 26 at bats, he has 10 hits, six for extra bases (two doubles, two triples and two home runs) with seven RBI and seven
runs.
• For the season, the infielder has batted .385 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored in 23 games. Eight of 15 hits are for extra bases. Simmons has three doubles, two triples
and three home runs.
Highlight Hertzler
• Cole Hertzler has been rather successful since the start of CUSA play. The right-hander has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.69 ERA over 31 2/3 innings.
• Entering the weekend, the right-hander has a 5-4 record with a 3.98 ERA over 54 1/3 innings in 10 appearances, nine of which were starts. He has struck out 64, walked 24 and is
holding opposing hitters to a .239 batting average.
• Currently, Hertzler is fifth in CUSA in ERA, fourth in innings pitched, third in batters struck out and sixth in opponent batting average.
• On April 12, the right-hander set a new career-high for strikeouts in Liberty's 7-2 victory over Jacksonville State.
Hertzler struck out a career-high 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings in the contest.
Players Mentioned
Flames in the Pros: Garrett Horn
Thursday, July 17
Inside the Park: Conference USA Championship
Thursday, May 29
Coach LeCroy & Camden Troyer Talk About Preparing For The CUSA Baseball Tournament
Monday, May 19
Ben Blair: The Hometown Ace
Wednesday, May 07