Liberty Downs N.C. State
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| Trey Wimmer had four hits and four RBIs, Wednesday |
March 25, 2009
Raleigh, N.C.
The Liberty Flames banged out a season-high 23 hits, leading from start to finish, en route to a 17-5 victory over the N.C. State Wolfpack, Wednesday afternoon, at Doak Field.
With a win in Liberty Head Coach Jim Toman’s return to his alma mater as a head coach, the Flames run their record to 16-5 on the season. N.C. State drops to 13-11 overall. In addition, Liberty extends its winning streak to six-straight contests, and the squad has now won 13 out of its last 15 games.
The Flames collected 23 hits in the contest, the most by Liberty this season. The hit total eclipses the 18 hits Toman’s squad had on three other occasions earlier this year.
The Flames jumped onto the Doak Field scoreboard, batting around in their opening at bat. Shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch to open the contest, and plated the game’s first run on a double into the left field corner by center fielder Curran Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.). Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) followed with a single to center field, chasing home Redal for a quick 2-0 advantage. Next batter, left fielder Jeff Jefferson (So., Danville, Va.), then blasted his fourth home run of the season over the advertising signs in left field for a 4-0 Liberty lead.
After third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) walked and advanced to third base on a single by designated hitter Justin Richardson (Fr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.), first baseman Trey Wimmer lined a double past the third base bag, scoring Tyler Bream for a 5-0 Flames’ advantage.
The host Wolfpack got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Drew Martin led off the frame with an infield single, and moved to second on a two-out single by left fielder Drew Polk. Catcher Pratt Maynard followed with a single through the right side of the infield, plating Martin to make it, 5-1 Liberty.
After the Flames stranded runners at second and third base in the top of the second inning, N.C. State pushed across a run in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and the bases full of Wolfpack runners, designated hitter John Gianis drew a walk, forcing a run across to trim the Liberty advantage to 5-2.
In the third inning, N.C. State cut its deficit to one. With two outs and runners on first and second base, pinch hitter Kyle Wilson singled, plating center fielder Devon Cartwright, who had earlier walked, with the first Wolfpack run of the frame. N.C. State then benefited from a Flames miscue to slice the Liberty lead to 5-4. During the ensuing at bat, Wilson was caught trying to steal, but Flames pitcher Andrew Wilson (Sr., Cary, N.C.) threw wide of second base, allowing shortstop Dallas Polk to score.
Liberty countered with a run in the fourth inning. With two outs, Jefferson and catcher Errol Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.) reached on back-to-back singles to put Flames at the corners. Tyler Bream followed with the third-straight single, cashing in Jefferson to up Liberty’s lead to 6-4.
The Flames built a six-run cushion with four runs in the sixth inning. Jefferson singled to open the frame and moved to second on a bunt single by Hollinger. Tyler Bream followed with a double into the left center field gap, scoring Jefferson with the first run of sixth inning. Hollinger scored to up the Liberty advantage to 8-4, on a sacrifice fly by Richardson. Wimmer, the next batter, ripped a run-scoring single through the middle for a 9-4 lead. Later in the inning, Wimmer scored on a throwing error by Wolfpack third baseman Martin for a 10-4 Flames advantage.
Liberty added two more runs in the seventh inning. Tyler Bream ripped a two-out RBI double for the first run of the frame. Wimmer followed with a RBI single to make it, 12-5 in favor of the Flames.
In the ninth inning, Liberty added five more runs for the final score of 17-5. Wimmer drove in his fourth run of the game with a single to begin the scoring in the inning, followed by Williams walking with the bases loaded. The Flames also scored runs in the frame on a sacrifice fly by Redal and a two-run double by Tim Rotola (Sr., Wichita, Kan.), who entered the game
Mark Swanson (Jr., Buford, Ga.), the second Liberty pitcher in the contest, picks up the win to run his record to 3-0 on the year. The right-hander pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out three.
N.C. State starter Cory Mazzoni takes the loss, falling to 0-3 on the year. The first of seven Wolfpack pitchers in the game, he was chased after 1/3 of an inning, allowing five runs on five hits.
Redal and Wimmer paced the Flames at the plate with four hits each. Tyler Bream, Hollinger and Jefferson added three hits apiece for Liberty. Outfielder Wade Moore had two hits for N.C. State.
The contest marked the return of Toman to his alma mater as a head coach. The Liberty skipper was a four-year letterwinner in baseball with the Wolfpack from 1981-84. He graduated from N.C. State in 1984, and later returned as an assistant coach with the Wolfpack from 1990-96.
Liberty returns home, Friday, to begin a three-game series with Big South Conference newcomer Presbyterian. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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