Liberty Eases Past N.C. A&T in Home Opener

Coach Scott Jackson Postgame Press Conference

Logan Mathieu Postgame Press Conference

Mason Hand Postgame Press Conference
 

The Liberty Flames opened their home schedule in grand fashion, cruising by the North Carolina A&T Aggies 16-2, Wednesday afternoon at Worthington Stadium at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

In Liberty's first home game of the season, second baseman Josh Haney collected three hits, including a home run, and first baseman Logan Mathieu also hit a home run in the victory.

Liberty evens its record at 2-2. North Carolina A&T falls to 1-3.

Box Score Highlights
Records: North Carolina A&T (1-3); Liberty (2-2)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Mason Hand (1-0) | LP: Peyton Winebarger (0-1)

Scoring Summary
LIBERTY – 2^nd INNING – Mathieu homers, Betts scores, 2-0
LIBERTY – 2^nd INNING – Haney singles, McDyre scores, 3-0
LIBERTY – 2^nd INNING – Guy singles, Haney scores, 4-0
LIBERTY – 2^nd INNING – Anderson singles, Guy scores, 5-0
LIBERTY – 3^rd INNING – McDyre flies out, Betts scores, 6-0
LIBERTY – 3^rd INNING – Wilson reaches on fielding error, Mathieu scores, 7-0
NC A&T – 5^th INNING – Mack doubles, Williams scores, 7-1
LIBERTY – 7^th INNING – Wilson walks, Betts scores, 8-1
LIBERTY – 7^th INNING – Haney singles, McDyre and Mathieu score, 10-1
LIBERTY – 7^th INNING – Guy doubles, Haney and Wilson score, 12-1
LIBERTY – 7^th INNING – Anderson grounds out, Guy scores, 13-1
NC A&T – 8^th INNING – Ash reaches on fielding error, Rodriguez scores, 13-2
LIBERTY – 8^th INNING – Wilson doubles, McDyre and Wilkinson score, 15-2
LIBERTY – 8^th INNING – Haney homers, 16-2

Notable Numbers
- Liberty posted a double-digit hit total for the first time in 2021. The Flames outhit the Aggies, 15-7. Each team committed one error.
- The Flames were 8-of-16 with runners in scoring position in the contest.
- The bottom third of Liberty's lineup, positions 7-9, collected six hits, drove in 10 runs and scored six times.
- Haney, making his first Liberty start, was 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored. The sophomore also hit his first home run as a Flame in the victory.
- Mathieu had a double and his first home run of 2021 in the contest. The first baseman drove in two runs and scored three times.
- Center fielder Jaylen Guy drove in a career-high three RBI. The sophomore had two hits, a double, scored twice and stole a base.
- Right fielder Jake Wilson had three RBI in his first start in a Liberty uniform. Wilson doubled home two runs and walked with the base loaded.
- Making his first start of 2021, right-hander Mason Hand pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He tied his career-high with six strikeouts and walked one batter.

Beyond the Box Score
- With the win, Liberty moves to 8-1 in home openers at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Flames are 36-11 in home openers in program history.
- Liberty hitters drove in six runs with two strikes in the contest.
- Five Flames collected multi-hit games. Besides Haney, Mathieu and Guy, third baseman Trey McDyre and outfielder Gray Betts also had two hits apiece in the contest.
- Betts and designated hitter Aaron Anderson each have at least one hit in every game, this season.

Up Next
Liberty travels to Fort Worth, Texas for a weekend series against the No. 10-ranked TCU Horned Frogs. The series opens Friday at Lupton Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.