Liberty University
10-6
Central Connecticut State
5-6
6-Run Eighth Propels Liberty Past Central Connecticut State
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Liberty Flames broke a 1-1 tie with six runs in the eighth inning, downing the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, 7-5, in game five of the Liberty Invitational at the Liberty Baseball Stadium. The contest was the first of two for the Flames, Sunday.
Limited to one run through the first seven innings by Blue Devils starter Brett Susi, the Flames batted around in the eighth, plating six runs on four hits to build a 7-1 edge.
Liberty right fielder Will Shepherd collected two hits and drove in a career-high three runs for the second time, this season and the third time during his career.
Catcher Payton Scarbrough had two hits and scored twice in the contest for the Flames.
Liberty, winners of three straight, move to 10-6 on the year. CCSU falls to 5-6 on the season. It was the second win by the Flames over the Blue Devils during the Liberty Invitational, as Liberty defeated the Blue Devils, 5-1, Friday.
The Flames pushed across the game's first run in the third inning. Scarbrough singled and center fielder D.J. Artis walked to open the home half of the frame. After both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Nick Walker, Shepherd singled to score Scarbrough for a 1-0 edge.
CCSU tied the contest in the fifth. With one out, third baseman Franklin Jennings walked and moved to third on a double by second baseman Dean Lockery. Designated hitter Dylan Maher followed with a ground out to plate Jennings to knot the contest at 1-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, Liberty broke the deadlock. Third baseman Eric Grabowski was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Scarbrough. After Artis walked to load the bases, Walker singled to plate Grabowski for a 2-1 edge. Shepherd followed with a two-run single, extending the Liberty advantage to 4-1.
Shortstop Dalton Britt then lined a triple into right-center field gap, scoring two more runs for 6-1 lead. Two batters later, first baseman Sammy Taormina lifted a run-scoring sacrifice fly, giving the Flames a 7-1 advantage.
The Blue Devils rallied in the ninth, bring the tying run to the plate to hit in the inning. CCSU plated four runs on a wild pitch, a two-run single by Lockery and a single by first baseman Ryan Costello. Liberty reliever Carson Herndon then got center fielder Tyler Coleman to line out to Grabowski at third base to seal the 7-5 victory for the Flames.
Right-hander Thomas Simpson records his first win in a Liberty uniform, moving to 1-0 on the year. The second of four Liberty pitchers in the contest, he gave up two on two hits over 3 1/3 inings. He struck out two and walked two batters.
Herndon pitched to the final two batters of the contest, picking up his second save of the season.
Susi, who allowed one run on five hits through the first seven innings, falls to 2-1 on the year. The right-hander gave up six runs on nine hits over seven-plus innings. He struck out one and walked two batters.
Liberty outhit CCSU, 10-9, in the contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Simpson, Thomas (1-0)
L: SUSI, Brett (2-1)
S: Herndon, Carson (2)
Batting:
2B: LOCKERY, Dean 1
RBI: LOCKERY, Dean 2 ; MAHER, Dylan 1 ; COSTELLO, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LIPPINCOTT, John 1 ; WRIGHT, Ken 1 ; GARLAND, Nick 1 ; JENNINGS, Franklin 2
CS: LANDELL, Nick 1
PO: LIPPINCOTT, John 1
Batting:
2B: Yacyk, Andrew 1
3B: Britt, Dalton 1
RBI: Walker, Nick 1 ; Shepherd, Will 3 ; Britt, Dalton 2 ; Taormina, Sammy 1
SH: Walker, Nick 2
SF: Taormina, Sammy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Artis, D.J. 1 ; Stroosma, Aaron 1 ; Shepherd, Will 1 ; Britt, Dalton 1 ; Grabowski, Eric 1 ; Scarbrough, Payton 2
HBP: Grabowski, Eric 1
PO: Shepherd, Will 1
