Liberty Sails Past FGCU 11-3, Friday

The Liberty Flames downed the FGCU Eagles 11-3 in the opening game of a three-game ASUN series, Friday evening at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

Outfielders Derek Orndorff and Aaron Anderson each had three hits in the contest to lead the Flames. Orndorff also drove in two runs and scored a run in the contest. First baseman Logan Mathieu added two hits and two RBI for Liberty.

Left-hander Garrett Horn allowed two runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, before handing it over to the Flames' bullpen.

Liberty moves to 18-10 overall and evens its ASUN record at 5-5. FGCU drops to 20-10 overall and 7-3 in ASUN play.

Box Score Highlights

Records: FGCU (20-10, 7-3 ASUN; Liberty (18-10, 5-5 ASUN)

Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)

WP: Garrett Horn (3-1) | LP: Jason Woodward (3-3)

Scoring Summary

2^nd INNING – FGCU – Figueredo homers, 1-0

2^nd INNING – LIBERTY – Betts doubles, Keeter and Mathieu score, 2-1

2^nd INNING – LIBERTY – Orndorff singles, Betts (unearned) scores, 3-1

3^rd INNING – LIBERTY – Mathieu grounds out, Gulakowski scores, 4-1

4^th INNING – LIBERTY – Orndorff bunt single, Keeter scores, 5-1

6^th INNING – FGCU – Kinker homers, 5-2

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Foster scores on a wild pitch, 6-2

6^th INNING – LIBERTY – Anderson doubles, Keeter (unearned) scores, 7-2

7^th INNING – FGCU – Rodriguez walks, Farrow (unearned) scores, 7-3

7^th INNING – LIBERTY – Keeter reaches on fielder's choice, Hillier scores, 8-3

8^th INNING – LIBERTY – Hillier doubles, Orndorff and Anderson score, 10-3

8^th INNING – LIBERTY – Mathieu singles, Hillier scores, 11-3

Notable Numbers

- Liberty outhit FGCU, 12-8, in the contest. Each team committed two errors apiece.

- The Flames left nine men on base. The Eagles left 15 men on base. FGCU also left the bases loaded three times.

- Liberty's four pitchers combined to strike out a season-high 18 batters in the contest.

- The Flames had a season-high five doubles in the game with Anderson collecting two.

- Horn recorded the win. He struck out nine and walked three before giving way to the bullpen with one out in the sixth.

- Relievers Trey Carter, Mason Fluharty and Jeremy Beamon combined to allow an unearned run on four hits over the final 3 2/3 innings. They struck out nine and walked four.

- FGCU starter Jason Woodward takes the loss. He gave up five runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked five.

- Designated hitter Alejandro Figueredo hit his sixth home run and first baseman Joe Kinker hit his ninth home run of the season for the Eagles in the contest.

Turning Point

With a run already in the top of the sixth on Kinker's home run to cut the Flames' lead to 5-2, FGCU loaded the bases with one out against Liberty reliever Trey Carter. However, the right-hander was able to bounce back by striking out the next two batters to end the scoring threat and the inning.

Beyond the Box Score

- FGCU and Liberty met for the first time since 2019, this evening. Although members of the ASUN Conference since 2019, the two teams had not met since May of 2019 in Fort Meyers, Fla.

- Liberty's 18 strikeouts are a new season-high for the Flames. The Flames previously struck out 17 in a victory over Canisius on March 6 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

- Anderson collects his third three-hit game and his team-leading 12 multi-hit game of the season in the contest.

- Orndorff records his second three-hit game and his eighth multi-hit game of the year. With two RBI in the contest, he ties Brady Gulakowski for the team lead in RBI with 27.

- Mathieu posts his fourth multi-hit game of the year and drives in two or more runs in a game for the second time in 2022.

- The contest was 3 hours and 49 minutes, the longest Liberty game this season.

Up Next

Liberty and FGCU will meet again in the middle game of their series, tomorrow afternoon at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.