An 0-3 start to the season was the driving force for a mid-week resurgence, as the Liberty baseball team claimed its first victory of the season Feb. 22 over the Duke Blue Devils, 8-6.
The matchup in Durham, North Carolina, was the first of two times the teams are slated head-to-head this season, with their second meeting set for March 28 in Lynchburg.
Liberty’s recent record against the Blue Devils boasts success, as it claimed victory in its last four meetings with Duke. After putting up 11 runs in the two contests last season, a big offensive performance was much needed for a Flames team that garnered just three runs in its first three games of the year.
After a quiet first inning at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, it was the Blue Devils who opened scoring in the second with a solo home run to center field from outfielder Damon Lux off Flames left-hander Garrett Gainey.
Gainey’s start on the mound was his first in the Flames uniform, as he hoped to record his first victory in the process.
It would take just one inning for the Flames to write back, as a major showing in the third propelled Liberty ahead of Duke.
With two outs and two runners on, infielder Cameron Foster singled in catcher Gray Betts to even the scoreboard at one apiece. A fielding error by the Blue Devils second baseman prompted the next run, as outfielder Victor Castillo scored after Three Hillier reached first.
Then, the team that managed only two home runs in its first three games broke out the bats and let it fly.
Clemson transfer Camden Troyer was the first of the Flames to go yard with a three-run homer down the left-field line, scoring Foster and Hillier to mount a 5-1 Liberty lead. Troyer not only picked up his second home run of the season against the Blue Devils, but his first multi-hit game.
It was three-up and three-down for Duke in the bottom of the third before the Flames picked up right where they left off. Shortstop Jake Lazzaro launched his first home run in a Liberty uniform for a round trip in the top of the fourth.
Next up to the plate was Betts, who took after his teammate and belted a home run of his own. Betts’ homer, his first of the season, stretched the Flames lead to a comfortable 7-1.
Duke saw its deficit slightly narrow in the fifth inning, as a double from Alex Mooney brought in Jonathan Santucci. Later in the inning, Jay Beshears doubled to right center, scoring both Mooney and Luke Storm.
Pitcher David Erickson came to the mound in relief of Gainey, who exited the game giving up three runs on five hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. Liberty would bring home one more run in the contest, as junior outfielder Jaylen Guy took advantage of a wild pitch in the sixth inning that brought him home.
While it appeared the Flames had managed to quell Duke’s comeback efforts, the Blue Devils rallied in late innings.
Junior relief pitcher Trey Carter took the mound for Liberty in the bottom of the eighth, facing adversity early on and finding himself with the bases loaded and nobody out. A grounder from Cole Hebble brought in MJ Metz, followed by an Alex Mooney single that drove Tyler Albreight home.
Before the Flames knew it, the comfortable lead had become a two-run ballgame. Cole Hertzler, however, managed to get his guys out of the jam, picking up the final out, a scoreless ninth inning and the save in Liberty’s first triumph this season. While it was Gainey who recorded the win, the 10-hit performance from the Flames was the dealbreaker that sealed a fifth consecutive victory over the Blue Devils.
The Flames would go on to finish out their road trip against Winthrop in Rock Hill, South Carolina, going 2-1 in their battles with the Eagles. After a long time on the road, the next stop is Worthington Field, where the now 3-4 Liberty Flames will open their home slate March 1 in a mid-week contest against Longwood at 4 p.m.
Cory is the sports editor for the Liberty Champion. Follow her on Twitter
