Liberty Powers Past Duke

Curran Redal and Errol Hollinger each hit home runs, powering the Liberty Flames past the Duke Blue Devils, 6-3, Tuesday afternoon at Worthington Stadium.

With its fifth consecutive win, Liberty moves to 8-3 on the year. Duke drops to 8-4 on the season. It was the first meeting between the two squads on the diamond since 1998.

The visiting Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Second baseman Gabriel Saade opened the contest by lining a single up the middle and advanced to third base two batters later, when first baseman Nate Freiman singled. The next batter, left fielder Jeremy Gould, then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Saade with the first run of the game.

In the home half of the third inning, the Flames used their first two hits of the contest to take a 2-1 advantage. With one out, second baseman P.J. Jimenez (Jr., Yucaipa, Calif.) singled through the middle. Center fielder Redal (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash.), two batters later, gave Liberty a short-lived lead with a home run into the visitors' bullpen in right field. The round tripper was the center fielder's second of the season.

Duke countered in the top of the next frame with two runs to take back the advantage. Catcher Matt Williams tied the contest at 2-2, leading off the fourth with his first home run of the year. After the first out of the inning, center fielder Will Piwnica-Worms singled and later advanced to third base on a two-out single by designated hitter Eric Pfister. Saade followed with a double down the left field line, plating Piwnica-Worms, and giving the Blue Devils a 3-2 edge.

In the bottom of the inning, Liberty erased the Duke lead on a home run by Hollinger (Sr., Upland, Calif.). Right fielder Doug Bream (So., Elizabethtown, Pa.) led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to the base of the right-center field wall. Two batters later, Hollinger connected for his fourth home run of the season, putting the Flames back in front, 4-3.

The Blue Devils moved two runners into scoring position in the fifth inning. Gould doubled with one out and moved to third base on a fielder's choice ground out by shortstop Jake Lemmerman. The shortstop then stole second base, putting Duke runners at second and third with two outs. However, Liberty starter Andrew Wilson (Sr., RHP, Cary, N.C.) struck out the next batter, preserving the Flames' 4-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the frame, Liberty extended its lead. Redal received a one-out walk and moved into scoring position by stealing second base. After a pop out for the second out of the inning, Bream ripped a double past the first base bag and into the right field corner, cashing in Redal for a 5-3 Flames edge.

The Blue Devils sandwiched a single and walk around a flyout in the eighth inning to once again threaten to cut into the Liberty advantage. Left-hander Steven Evans (So., Amherst, Va.) was summoned from the bullpen and promptly got the next Duke hitter to ground to shortstop Matt Williams (Fr., Franklin, Tenn.) for an inning-ending double play.

The Flames added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, first baseman Trey Wimmer (Fr., Greenwood, S.C.) lined a single through the left side of the infield. Third baseman Tyler Bream (Fr., Zelienople, Pa.) followed with a single to right center, chasing home Wimmer, who beat the relay throw to the plate for the final score of 6-3.

Liberty's Wilson runs his record to 2-1 on the season. The right-hander allowed three runs on 12 hits over 7 1/3 innings of work. He struck out four batters and walked two. Evans earns his first save of the year, retiring four of the five batters he faced over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Duke starter Jonathan Foreman drops to 0-1 on the year. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits over five innings of work. He struck out five batters and walked two. Reliever Will Currier pitched the final three frames for the Blue Devils, allowing one run on three hits.

Doug Bream and Tyler Bream each had two hits for the Flames. Saade led all hitters with three hits in the contest for Duke.

Liberty continues its nine-game homestand tomorrow. The Flames host in-state foe the Tribe of William & Mary at Worthington Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Team Stats

Doug Bream

Tyler Bream

Matt Williams

Curran Redal