Hertzler and Kepley Named to CUSA All-Conference Team
5/21/2024 1:04:00 PM | Baseball
RUSTON, LA. – Liberty pitcher Cole Hertzler and outfielder Kane Kepley were selected to the 2024 CUSA All-Conference team, the conference announced this afternoon.
Hertzler and Kepley were each voted to the all-conference second team. In addition, Liberty pitcher Ben Blair, catcher Macaddin Dye and shortstop Tanner Marsh were selected to the 2024 CUSA All-Freshmen team. The teams were selected by the CUSA Conference head coaches.
The Flames (22-32, 11-13 CUSA) are currently preparing for the 2024 Super 1 Foods CUSA Baseball Championship, hosted by Louisiana Tech at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston, La. Liberty is the No. 5 seed for the double-elimination tournament and will face No. 4 seed Sam Houston in the final game of the first day of the tournament on Wednesday. Game time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. CST.
Liberty All-Conference Capsules
Cole Hertzler – Jr., P, Barto, Pa. (CUSA All-Conference Second Team)
Hertzler earns his first all-conference selection. The junior from Barto, Pa., and Liberty's No. 1 starter has made 14 appearances and 13 starts this season. The right-hander has posted a 5-6 record with a 4.46 ERA over 76 2/3 innings. He has struck out a team-high 89 batters and walked 30. He has held opponents to a .237 batting average.
Hertzler enters this week's CUSA Baseball Championship second in strikeouts, fourth in innings pitched and opponent batting average, sixth in the conference in ERA and ninth in wins. He leads Liberty in each category also. The right-hander enters the week averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kane Kepley – So., OF, Salisbury, N.C. (CUSA All-Conference Second Team)
Kepley receives his first all-conference recognition. The sophomore from Salisbury, N.C., has started every game for the Flames this season. The Liberty leadoff hitter enters the week with a team-leading .332 batting average with 31 RBI and a team-leading 54 runs scored. The center fielder has hit a career-high nine home runs and posted an on base percentage of .481. He leads CUSA with 47 walks and 23 stolen bases.
Besides leading the conference in walks and stolen bases, Kepley is third in CUSA in on base percentage and is tied for seventh in runs scored.
Liberty All-Freshman Capsules
Ben Blair – Fr., RHP, Gretna, Va. (CUSA All-Freshmen Team)
Blair has made 21 appearances and two starts in 2024. The right-hander from Gretna, Va., has posted a 4-4 record with a 3.74 ERA over 45 2/3 innings. He has struck out 37, walked 22 and his opponents are hitting .272 against him. Blair has pitched the most innings of any Flame this season, pitching 39 1/3 innings in relief.
Macaddin Dye – Fr. C, Virginia Beach, Va. (CUSA All-Freshen Team)
Dye has started 53 of Liberty's 54 games behind the plate this season for the Flames. The Virginia Beach, Va., native has hit .282 with six home runs and a team-leading 48 RBI. He has also scored 29 runs scored and posted a .431 slugging percentage. The catcher leads Liberty with a .321 batting average with two outs and has a team-leading 23 two-out RBI.
Tanner Marsh – Fr. INF, Asheboro, N.C. (CUSA All-Freshen Team)
Marsh has started all 55 games at shortstop for the Flames this season. The Asheboro, N.C., native has hit .273 with four home runs, 18 RBI and 40 runs scored. He has 15 multi-hit games, the third most by a Liberty player this season.
Hertzler and Kepley were each voted to the all-conference second team. In addition, Liberty pitcher Ben Blair, catcher Macaddin Dye and shortstop Tanner Marsh were selected to the 2024 CUSA All-Freshmen team. The teams were selected by the CUSA Conference head coaches.
The Flames (22-32, 11-13 CUSA) are currently preparing for the 2024 Super 1 Foods CUSA Baseball Championship, hosted by Louisiana Tech at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston, La. Liberty is the No. 5 seed for the double-elimination tournament and will face No. 4 seed Sam Houston in the final game of the first day of the tournament on Wednesday. Game time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST/7:30 p.m. CST.
Liberty All-Conference Capsules
Cole Hertzler – Jr., P, Barto, Pa. (CUSA All-Conference Second Team)
Hertzler earns his first all-conference selection. The junior from Barto, Pa., and Liberty's No. 1 starter has made 14 appearances and 13 starts this season. The right-hander has posted a 5-6 record with a 4.46 ERA over 76 2/3 innings. He has struck out a team-high 89 batters and walked 30. He has held opponents to a .237 batting average.
Hertzler enters this week's CUSA Baseball Championship second in strikeouts, fourth in innings pitched and opponent batting average, sixth in the conference in ERA and ninth in wins. He leads Liberty in each category also. The right-hander enters the week averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kane Kepley – So., OF, Salisbury, N.C. (CUSA All-Conference Second Team)
Kepley receives his first all-conference recognition. The sophomore from Salisbury, N.C., has started every game for the Flames this season. The Liberty leadoff hitter enters the week with a team-leading .332 batting average with 31 RBI and a team-leading 54 runs scored. The center fielder has hit a career-high nine home runs and posted an on base percentage of .481. He leads CUSA with 47 walks and 23 stolen bases.
Besides leading the conference in walks and stolen bases, Kepley is third in CUSA in on base percentage and is tied for seventh in runs scored.
Liberty All-Freshman Capsules
Ben Blair – Fr., RHP, Gretna, Va. (CUSA All-Freshmen Team)
Blair has made 21 appearances and two starts in 2024. The right-hander from Gretna, Va., has posted a 4-4 record with a 3.74 ERA over 45 2/3 innings. He has struck out 37, walked 22 and his opponents are hitting .272 against him. Blair has pitched the most innings of any Flame this season, pitching 39 1/3 innings in relief.
Macaddin Dye – Fr. C, Virginia Beach, Va. (CUSA All-Freshen Team)
Dye has started 53 of Liberty's 54 games behind the plate this season for the Flames. The Virginia Beach, Va., native has hit .282 with six home runs and a team-leading 48 RBI. He has also scored 29 runs scored and posted a .431 slugging percentage. The catcher leads Liberty with a .321 batting average with two outs and has a team-leading 23 two-out RBI.
Tanner Marsh – Fr. INF, Asheboro, N.C. (CUSA All-Freshen Team)
Marsh has started all 55 games at shortstop for the Flames this season. The Asheboro, N.C., native has hit .273 with four home runs, 18 RBI and 40 runs scored. He has 15 multi-hit games, the third most by a Liberty player this season.
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