Sunday, April 21
Bowling Green, Ky.
2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT
Liberty University
4
at
5
Western Kentucky
WKU Holds Off Liberty for 5-4 Victory
4/21/2024 6:40:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers slipped past the Liberty Flames in a nail-biter 5-4 at Nick Dunes Field to conclude their three-game CUSA series Sunday.
The host Hilltoppers took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a home run by left fielder Jaylin Ray and then had to hold off the Flames.
In the eighth inning, Liberty moved the tying run into scoring position at second base with one out and loaded the bases with two outs but could not push the tying run across.
The Flames moved runners to second and third base in the ninth with one out but reliever Mason Burns was able to keep the runners from scoring by retiring the next two batters to close out the victory.
For the second consecutive day, Flames center fielder Kane Kepley had three hits. He also connected for his sixth home run of the season in the contest. Left fielder Brayden Horton also his team-leading nine home run of the year for Liberty in the contest.
Liberty drops to 9-6 in CUSA and 17-22 overall. WKU sweeps the three-game series to move to 11-4 in CUSA and 29-12 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (17-22, 9-6 CUSA); Western Kentucky (29-12, 11-4 CUSA)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Nick Denes Field)
WP: Grant Burleson (1-1) | LP: Cale Bolton (0-1) | SV: Mason Burns (12)
Scoring Summary
1st – WKU – Lizama homers, O'Connell scores, 2-0
3rd – LIBERTY – Marsh singles, Simmons scores, 2-1
5th – LIBERTY – Kepley homers, 2-2
5th – LIBERTY – Horton homers, Marsh scores, 4-2
5th – WKU – Lizama homers, Ross scores, 4-4
6th – WKU – Rae homers, 5-4
Notable Numbers
- WKU edged Liberty in the hit column, 11-10. The Hilltoppers committed the only error in the contest.
- The Flames left 12 men on base. The Hilltoppers left 10.
- Liberty used four pitchers in the contest. Reliever Cale Bolton, the second Flames pitcher in the contest, takes the loss. He gave up one run on one hit in one inning of work. He struck out one and walked one.
- WKU used six pitchers, including three in the eighth inning. Grant Burleson picks up the win for the Hilltoppers. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
- Mason Burns worked out of scoring threats in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his nation-leading 12th save. He gave up one hit over 1 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
- WKU right fielder Ethan Lizama had three hits, including two home runs. He collected four RBI and scored twice.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Hilltoppers move into first place in the CUSA standings. It is the first time this season that the Flames have dropped a CUSA series.
- Liberty was 2-for-14 (.143) with runners in scoring position in the contest. WKU was 1-for-11 (.091)
- For the second consecutive game, Kepley records a multi-hit game. After a three-hit game yesterday, Kepley posts his team-leading 16th multi-hit game with two hits today.
- Horton and Macaddin Dye each had a hit in the contest and now have each reached base in 17 consecutive games. It is the longest reached base streak by a Flame this season.
- Liberty starting pitcher Todd Hudson pitched a career-high five innings this afternoon. Primarily used as a reliever, the sophomore had never pitched more than four.
Up Next
Liberty will travel to Charlottesville, Va. for a contest against the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday. Game time at Disharoon Park is set for 6 p.m.
The host Hilltoppers took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a home run by left fielder Jaylin Ray and then had to hold off the Flames.
In the eighth inning, Liberty moved the tying run into scoring position at second base with one out and loaded the bases with two outs but could not push the tying run across.
The Flames moved runners to second and third base in the ninth with one out but reliever Mason Burns was able to keep the runners from scoring by retiring the next two batters to close out the victory.
For the second consecutive day, Flames center fielder Kane Kepley had three hits. He also connected for his sixth home run of the season in the contest. Left fielder Brayden Horton also his team-leading nine home run of the year for Liberty in the contest.
Liberty drops to 9-6 in CUSA and 17-22 overall. WKU sweeps the three-game series to move to 11-4 in CUSA and 29-12 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (17-22, 9-6 CUSA); Western Kentucky (29-12, 11-4 CUSA)
Location: Bowling Green, Ky. (Nick Denes Field)
WP: Grant Burleson (1-1) | LP: Cale Bolton (0-1) | SV: Mason Burns (12)
Scoring Summary
1st – WKU – Lizama homers, O'Connell scores, 2-0
3rd – LIBERTY – Marsh singles, Simmons scores, 2-1
5th – LIBERTY – Kepley homers, 2-2
5th – LIBERTY – Horton homers, Marsh scores, 4-2
5th – WKU – Lizama homers, Ross scores, 4-4
6th – WKU – Rae homers, 5-4
Notable Numbers
- WKU edged Liberty in the hit column, 11-10. The Hilltoppers committed the only error in the contest.
- The Flames left 12 men on base. The Hilltoppers left 10.
- Liberty used four pitchers in the contest. Reliever Cale Bolton, the second Flames pitcher in the contest, takes the loss. He gave up one run on one hit in one inning of work. He struck out one and walked one.
- WKU used six pitchers, including three in the eighth inning. Grant Burleson picks up the win for the Hilltoppers. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
- Mason Burns worked out of scoring threats in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his nation-leading 12th save. He gave up one hit over 1 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
- WKU right fielder Ethan Lizama had three hits, including two home runs. He collected four RBI and scored twice.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Hilltoppers move into first place in the CUSA standings. It is the first time this season that the Flames have dropped a CUSA series.
- Liberty was 2-for-14 (.143) with runners in scoring position in the contest. WKU was 1-for-11 (.091)
- For the second consecutive game, Kepley records a multi-hit game. After a three-hit game yesterday, Kepley posts his team-leading 16th multi-hit game with two hits today.
- Horton and Macaddin Dye each had a hit in the contest and now have each reached base in 17 consecutive games. It is the longest reached base streak by a Flame this season.
- Liberty starting pitcher Todd Hudson pitched a career-high five innings this afternoon. Primarily used as a reliever, the sophomore had never pitched more than four.
Up Next
Liberty will travel to Charlottesville, Va. for a contest against the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday. Game time at Disharoon Park is set for 6 p.m.