Thursday, May 23
Ruston, La.
12:05 PM ET/11:05 AM CT
Liberty University
23-32
9
vs
3
Sam Houston
33-23
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Liberty
0
0
0
0
2
3
2
0
2
9
14
1
Sam Houston
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
5
1
Troyer, Hertzler Lead No. 5 Seed Liberty Past No. 4 Seed Sam Houston 9-3
5/23/2024 5:11:00 PM | Baseball
RUSTON, LA. – Right fielder Camden Troyer belted two home runs and drove in a career-high seven RBI and right-hander Cole Hertzler allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings as the No. 5 seed Liberty Flames topped the No.4 seed Sam Houston Bearkats, 9-3, in Game 4 of the 2024 CUSA Baseball Championship at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park on Thursday.
Troyer had three hits in the game, all for extra bases. The right fielder hit his fifth and sixth home runs of the season and added a two-run double. He also had a sacrifice fly RBI.
Meanwhile, CUSA All-Conference pitcher Hertlzer was in control throughout his outing, the longest of his career. The junior allowed one run on four hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
After Sam Houston scored a run in the third inning, Liberty scored seven unanswered runs to take a 7-1 lead. The first five Flames' runs came with two out.
With the victory, Liberty (23-32) advances to play No. 1 seed and tournament host Louisiana Tech at 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST tomorrow. Sam Houston (33-22) drops into an elimination game tomorrow against Middle Tennessee.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (23-32); Sam Houston (33-22)
Location: J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
WP: Cole Hertzler (6-6) | LP: Coltin Atkinson (6-5)
Scoring Summary
3rd – SHSU – Autrey singles, Martinez singles, 1-0
5th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, Foster scores, 2-1
5th – LIBERTY – Troyer doubles, Rabon and Hudson, 4-1
6th – SHSU – Marsh singles, Troyer scores, 5-1
7th – LIBERTY – Simmons walked, Dye scores, 6-1
7th – LIBERTY – Troyer flied out, Hudson scores, 7-1
9th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, Horton scores, 9-1
9th – SHSU – Lott homers, Tatom scores, 9-3
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Sam Houston, 14-5. Each team committed one error.
- The Flames left 11 men on base. The Bearkats left six.
- Center fielder Kane Kepley, first baseman Noah Rabon, third baseman Cam Foster and shortstop Tanner Marsh each had two hits in the contest.
- Liberty's 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup Foster, Troyer and Marsh combined to go 7-for-13 in the game.
- CUSA All-Conference pitcher Coltin Atkinson takes the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
- The Bearkats used five pitchers in the contest.
- Designated hitter Malachi Lott had two hits including his 10th home run of the year in the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty and Sam Houston played in their first-ever CUSA Tournament game this afternoon. Both teams joined the conference in July of 2023.
- With seven RBI, Troyer eclipsed his previous game-high of five RBI in a win over Longwood at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium on March 1, 2023. His three-hit game was his second of 2024 and his seventh multi-hit game of the year.
- Hertzler had never pitched past the seventh inning during his career until this afternoon. He had previously pitched seven innings in three contests.
- Hudson has hit .450 (9-for-25) over his last five games. The designated hitter collected his 12th multi-hit game of the season in the contest.
- Kepley, a CUSA All-Conference team member, recorded his team-leading 20th multi-hit game, while Marsh picked up his 16th.
- Flames left fielder Brayden Horton singled and was hit by a pitch in the game. He has reached base in 33 consecutive games.
Up Next
The Flames will face the No. 1 seed and tournament host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs tomorrow afternoon at J.C. Love Field at Patterson Park. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT.
Troyer had three hits in the game, all for extra bases. The right fielder hit his fifth and sixth home runs of the season and added a two-run double. He also had a sacrifice fly RBI.
Meanwhile, CUSA All-Conference pitcher Hertlzer was in control throughout his outing, the longest of his career. The junior allowed one run on four hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
After Sam Houston scored a run in the third inning, Liberty scored seven unanswered runs to take a 7-1 lead. The first five Flames' runs came with two out.
With the victory, Liberty (23-32) advances to play No. 1 seed and tournament host Louisiana Tech at 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST tomorrow. Sam Houston (33-22) drops into an elimination game tomorrow against Middle Tennessee.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (23-32); Sam Houston (33-22)
Location: J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
WP: Cole Hertzler (6-6) | LP: Coltin Atkinson (6-5)
Scoring Summary
3rd – SHSU – Autrey singles, Martinez singles, 1-0
5th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, Foster scores, 2-1
5th – LIBERTY – Troyer doubles, Rabon and Hudson, 4-1
6th – SHSU – Marsh singles, Troyer scores, 5-1
7th – LIBERTY – Simmons walked, Dye scores, 6-1
7th – LIBERTY – Troyer flied out, Hudson scores, 7-1
9th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, Horton scores, 9-1
9th – SHSU – Lott homers, Tatom scores, 9-3
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Sam Houston, 14-5. Each team committed one error.
- The Flames left 11 men on base. The Bearkats left six.
- Center fielder Kane Kepley, first baseman Noah Rabon, third baseman Cam Foster and shortstop Tanner Marsh each had two hits in the contest.
- Liberty's 7, 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup Foster, Troyer and Marsh combined to go 7-for-13 in the game.
- CUSA All-Conference pitcher Coltin Atkinson takes the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
- The Bearkats used five pitchers in the contest.
- Designated hitter Malachi Lott had two hits including his 10th home run of the year in the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty and Sam Houston played in their first-ever CUSA Tournament game this afternoon. Both teams joined the conference in July of 2023.
- With seven RBI, Troyer eclipsed his previous game-high of five RBI in a win over Longwood at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium on March 1, 2023. His three-hit game was his second of 2024 and his seventh multi-hit game of the year.
- Hertzler had never pitched past the seventh inning during his career until this afternoon. He had previously pitched seven innings in three contests.
- Hudson has hit .450 (9-for-25) over his last five games. The designated hitter collected his 12th multi-hit game of the season in the contest.
- Kepley, a CUSA All-Conference team member, recorded his team-leading 20th multi-hit game, while Marsh picked up his 16th.
- Flames left fielder Brayden Horton singled and was hit by a pitch in the game. He has reached base in 33 consecutive games.
Up Next
The Flames will face the No. 1 seed and tournament host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs tomorrow afternoon at J.C. Love Field at Patterson Park. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertzler, Cole (6-6)
L: Coltin Atkinson (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Sweatt, Aidan 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1
HR: Troyer, Camden 2
RBI: Simmons, John 1 ; Troyer, Camden 7 ; Marsh, Tanner 1
SF: Troyer, Camden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dye, Macaddin 1 ; Hudson, Todd 2 ; Rabon, Noah 1 ; Horton, Brayden 1 ; Foster, Cam 1 ; Troyer, Camden 3
HBP: Horton, Brayden 1
Batting:
HR: Malachi Lott 1
RBI: Hunter Autrey 1 ; Malachi Lott 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jake Tatom 1 ; Malachi Lott 1 ; Jace Martinez 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
7
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballLiberty Baseball Mission Trip to Guatemala
Tuesday, October 14
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