- May 14th, 2006, 1:36 pm
#15073
very disappointing to drop two of three to UNCA. with the win in the nightcap last night the bulldogs qualified for the big south tournament. chuck south, radford, and VMI are left out this year. i really hope that our pitchers arms can last!
Bulldogs Down Flames in Big South Series Opener
May 12, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Kevin Mattison was 3-for-4 with a home run, triple and five RBI and Alan DeRatt pitched his first complete game of the season as the UNC Asheville Bulldogs defeated the Liberty Flames, 8-3, Friday afternoon in the opening game of the three-game Big South Conference weekend series at Greenwood Field.
The Flames fall to 11-8 in the Big South and 33-16 overall, while the Bulldogs upped their mark to 9-10 in the Big South and 22-27 overall.
Liberty opened the scoring by manufacturing a run in the visitor half of the first inning. Patrick Gaillard (Jr., SS, Taylors, S.C.) led off the game with a bunt single on the first pitch of the contest. After the next two batters were set down, the shortstop then stole second base and scored as Phillip Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) doubled off the wall in center field for a 1-0 Flames’ advantage.
After retiring the first seven batters he faced in the contest, Liberty starter Phillip Thompson (Sr., RHP, Ringgold, Va.) ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning with one out. Shortstop Matt Henson singled for the Bulldogs first hit of the game.
Steve Burnich followed with a single and both scored ahead of UNC Asheville’s third hit of the inning, a three-run home run to center field by Kevin Mattison to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. It was the center fielder’s eighth round tripper of the season.
UNC Asheville extended their lead with two in the fifth. With one out, Burnich singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter Mattison tripled to the right center field chasing home Burnich. Mattison then scored as left fielder Rob Vernon singled to left for a 5-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs added three more in the sixth for an 8-1 lead. A two-out single by Henson plated pinch hitter Charles Pippitt, who had singled. A wild pitch later allowed the second run of the frame and Mattison singled home another run for his fifth RBI of the day.
After being held in check since the first by DeRatt, the Flames broke through with two runs in the eighth. With one out, Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) tripled to the center field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.). Laurent followed with his team-leading eighth home run to make it, 8-3.
Thompson allowed eight runs, six earned in 5 2/3 innings as he drops to 6-5 on the season. The Flames’ senior struck out six and did not walk a batter. Dane Beakler (Fr., RHP, York, Pa.) followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings. DeRatt allowed three runs on 10 hits over nine innings, while striking out five and walking none to run his record to 6-3.
Laurent was 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Flames, while teammates Grijalva and Miller each had two hits. Besides Mattison, Elliot Arrington was also 3-for-4, while Henson and Burnich each had two hits for the Bulldogs.
Liberty and UNC Asheville will meet tomorrow in a doubleheader due to possible rain forecasted for the Asheville area on Sunday. Game time has been moved up an hour to 2 p.m.
Laurent Becomes Liberty Hit King as Flames Down Bulldogs in First Game of Doubleheader
May 13, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Phillip Laurent became the all-time school hit leader by going 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored as the Liberty Flames had season-highs in runs and hits in defeating the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 20-3, in the first game of their Big South doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) came into the contest needing four hits to surpass Larry Wayne York who held the Liberty career mark with 262 hits from 2000-2003. With three hits in his first four at bats, the left fielder step to the plate in the eighth inning and hit a run-scoring single to right field for career hit 263, breaking the record.
Laurent’s four were part of a 26 hit outburst by the Flames, their highest hit total of the season. Liberty also scored 20 runs also a season-high.
UNC Asheville opened up the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the half of the first. Center fielder Kevin Mattison led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Elliot Arrington then doubled to center to plate Mattison for an early 1-0 lead.
Liberty came back to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Laurent opened the frame with a double to the left center field gap. After the next two batters were retired, Derek Bennion (r-Jr., DH, Snohomish, Wash.) walked to continue the inning and Phil John followed by dropping a double inside the left field line to score both Flames’ runners.
The Bulldogs knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. Arrington drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. The right fielder then scored as second baseman Kyle Smith singled to right field.
The Flames struck for three more runs in the fifth. Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) singled with one out and move to third base on a throwing error by the Bulldog pitcher on a pick off attempt. Aaron Grijalva (r-So., 1B, Redlands, Calif.) followed with a sharply hit single up the middle to score Just. Grijalva then scored in front of next batter Laurent’s ninth home run of the year over the center field wall to put Liberty up, 5-2.
After Flames’ starter Dustin Umberger (Fr., RHP, Hummelstown, Pa.) pitched out of a bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Liberty broke opened the game by batting around in the top of the sixth. Errol Hollinger (Fr., C, Upland, Calif.) started the big inning by doubling off the left field wall. Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) then laid down a bunt for a hit to put Flames on the corners. Just followed with a single to plate Hollinger. The Bulldog pitcher then committed a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by Grijalva allowing the Liberty first baseman to reach and load the bases. Laurent was hit by a pitch forcing in the second run of the inning and Patrick Gaillard (Jr., SS, Taylors, S.C.) delivered a two-run single to make it, 9-3. Gaillard later scored in the inning on a wild pitch to put the Flames up, 10-3.
In the seventh, Liberty added three more runs capped by Laurent tying the school’s all-time career mark for hits. The Flames loaded the bases with no one out for the left fielder and he singled to left center scoring two runs. He later scored on a RBI single by Bennion.
Liberty added five more in the eighth highlighted by a RBI single by Laurent, which made the senior left fielder the all-time hit leader and added a run in the ninth.
Besides Laurent’s 4-of-5 contest, Just also was 4-for-5, while Gaillard and Miller had three each.
Umberger runs his mark to 3-1 on the season as he allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings, while striking out five and walking three. Jason Koziol (Fr., RHP, Paramus, N.J.) earned his first save of the season pitching three scoreless innings. Junior left-hander Chris Nigro falls to 5-8 for UNC Asheville. One of five Bulldog pitchers, he gave up six runs on 10 hits, while striking out six and two walks in five innings.
With the win, Liberty moves to 34-16 overall and 12-8 in the Big South, while UNC Asheville drops to 23-28 overall and 10-11 in the conference.
Flames Drop Second Game of Doubleheader to Bulldogs
May 13, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Sophomore right-hander Ben Buchanan limited Liberty to four hits in pitching a complete game as UNC Asheville Bulldogs downed the Flames, 4-2, Saturday afternoon in the second game of a Big South doubleheader at Greenwood Field.
Making his third start of the season, Buchanan went the distance for the first time this season. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, while striking seven and walking five. He raises his recorded to 4-4 on the season.
Liberty falls to 12-9 in the Big South Conference and 34-17 overall, while UNC Asheville moves to 10-11 in the Big South and 23-28 overall. With the win and a Charleston Southern loss, the Bulldogs secured a spot in the upcoming Big South Baseball Championship.
Just like in the first game, UNC Asheville scored the first run of the contest as the Bulldogs struck for a two-out run. A single by Joe Pellington scored Brett Robinson, who led off the inning, to take an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs added to their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kevin Mattison singled up the middle to open the frame. The next batter Matt Henson doubled to left field which the left fielder mishandled allowing Mattison to score. Henson later scored on a ground out by Kyle Smith for a 3-0 lead.
After holding the Flames scoreless through five innings, Liberty broke through against UNC Asheville starter Ben Buchanan with two runs in the sixth to cut the Bulldogs’ advantage to 3-2. Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) opened the inning with a walk and swiped second base. The third baseman then stole second and scored as the throw from the catcher sailed into left field. With one out, Aaron Grijalva (r-So., DH, Redlands, Calif.) walked and stole second. Phillip Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) followed with a double into the right field corner to bring home Grijalva.
The Bulldogs upped their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Edmund Locklear walked and scored as next batter Steve Burnich doubled to the left field corner.
Liberty starter Ryan Page (So., LHP, Cranberry Twp., Pa.) took the loss falling to 8-2 on the season. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits in four innings. Tyler Light (Fr., RHP, San Bernardino, Calif.) followed with four innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits.
The Flames return home to Worthington Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for the last non-conference game of the regular season as they will host the Richmond Spiders. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Bulldogs Down Flames in Big South Series Opener
May 12, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Kevin Mattison was 3-for-4 with a home run, triple and five RBI and Alan DeRatt pitched his first complete game of the season as the UNC Asheville Bulldogs defeated the Liberty Flames, 8-3, Friday afternoon in the opening game of the three-game Big South Conference weekend series at Greenwood Field.
The Flames fall to 11-8 in the Big South and 33-16 overall, while the Bulldogs upped their mark to 9-10 in the Big South and 22-27 overall.
Liberty opened the scoring by manufacturing a run in the visitor half of the first inning. Patrick Gaillard (Jr., SS, Taylors, S.C.) led off the game with a bunt single on the first pitch of the contest. After the next two batters were set down, the shortstop then stole second base and scored as Phillip Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) doubled off the wall in center field for a 1-0 Flames’ advantage.
After retiring the first seven batters he faced in the contest, Liberty starter Phillip Thompson (Sr., RHP, Ringgold, Va.) ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning with one out. Shortstop Matt Henson singled for the Bulldogs first hit of the game.
Steve Burnich followed with a single and both scored ahead of UNC Asheville’s third hit of the inning, a three-run home run to center field by Kevin Mattison to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. It was the center fielder’s eighth round tripper of the season.
UNC Asheville extended their lead with two in the fifth. With one out, Burnich singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter Mattison tripled to the right center field chasing home Burnich. Mattison then scored as left fielder Rob Vernon singled to left for a 5-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs added three more in the sixth for an 8-1 lead. A two-out single by Henson plated pinch hitter Charles Pippitt, who had singled. A wild pitch later allowed the second run of the frame and Mattison singled home another run for his fifth RBI of the day.
After being held in check since the first by DeRatt, the Flames broke through with two runs in the eighth. With one out, Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) tripled to the center field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.). Laurent followed with his team-leading eighth home run to make it, 8-3.
Thompson allowed eight runs, six earned in 5 2/3 innings as he drops to 6-5 on the season. The Flames’ senior struck out six and did not walk a batter. Dane Beakler (Fr., RHP, York, Pa.) followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings. DeRatt allowed three runs on 10 hits over nine innings, while striking out five and walking none to run his record to 6-3.
Laurent was 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Flames, while teammates Grijalva and Miller each had two hits. Besides Mattison, Elliot Arrington was also 3-for-4, while Henson and Burnich each had two hits for the Bulldogs.
Liberty and UNC Asheville will meet tomorrow in a doubleheader due to possible rain forecasted for the Asheville area on Sunday. Game time has been moved up an hour to 2 p.m.
Laurent Becomes Liberty Hit King as Flames Down Bulldogs in First Game of Doubleheader
May 13, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Phillip Laurent became the all-time school hit leader by going 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored as the Liberty Flames had season-highs in runs and hits in defeating the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 20-3, in the first game of their Big South doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) came into the contest needing four hits to surpass Larry Wayne York who held the Liberty career mark with 262 hits from 2000-2003. With three hits in his first four at bats, the left fielder step to the plate in the eighth inning and hit a run-scoring single to right field for career hit 263, breaking the record.
Laurent’s four were part of a 26 hit outburst by the Flames, their highest hit total of the season. Liberty also scored 20 runs also a season-high.
UNC Asheville opened up the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the half of the first. Center fielder Kevin Mattison led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Elliot Arrington then doubled to center to plate Mattison for an early 1-0 lead.
Liberty came back to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Laurent opened the frame with a double to the left center field gap. After the next two batters were retired, Derek Bennion (r-Jr., DH, Snohomish, Wash.) walked to continue the inning and Phil John followed by dropping a double inside the left field line to score both Flames’ runners.
The Bulldogs knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. Arrington drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. The right fielder then scored as second baseman Kyle Smith singled to right field.
The Flames struck for three more runs in the fifth. Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) singled with one out and move to third base on a throwing error by the Bulldog pitcher on a pick off attempt. Aaron Grijalva (r-So., 1B, Redlands, Calif.) followed with a sharply hit single up the middle to score Just. Grijalva then scored in front of next batter Laurent’s ninth home run of the year over the center field wall to put Liberty up, 5-2.
After Flames’ starter Dustin Umberger (Fr., RHP, Hummelstown, Pa.) pitched out of a bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Liberty broke opened the game by batting around in the top of the sixth. Errol Hollinger (Fr., C, Upland, Calif.) started the big inning by doubling off the left field wall. Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) then laid down a bunt for a hit to put Flames on the corners. Just followed with a single to plate Hollinger. The Bulldog pitcher then committed a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by Grijalva allowing the Liberty first baseman to reach and load the bases. Laurent was hit by a pitch forcing in the second run of the inning and Patrick Gaillard (Jr., SS, Taylors, S.C.) delivered a two-run single to make it, 9-3. Gaillard later scored in the inning on a wild pitch to put the Flames up, 10-3.
In the seventh, Liberty added three more runs capped by Laurent tying the school’s all-time career mark for hits. The Flames loaded the bases with no one out for the left fielder and he singled to left center scoring two runs. He later scored on a RBI single by Bennion.
Liberty added five more in the eighth highlighted by a RBI single by Laurent, which made the senior left fielder the all-time hit leader and added a run in the ninth.
Besides Laurent’s 4-of-5 contest, Just also was 4-for-5, while Gaillard and Miller had three each.
Umberger runs his mark to 3-1 on the season as he allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings, while striking out five and walking three. Jason Koziol (Fr., RHP, Paramus, N.J.) earned his first save of the season pitching three scoreless innings. Junior left-hander Chris Nigro falls to 5-8 for UNC Asheville. One of five Bulldog pitchers, he gave up six runs on 10 hits, while striking out six and two walks in five innings.
With the win, Liberty moves to 34-16 overall and 12-8 in the Big South, while UNC Asheville drops to 23-28 overall and 10-11 in the conference.
Flames Drop Second Game of Doubleheader to Bulldogs
May 13, 2006
Asheville, N.C.
Sophomore right-hander Ben Buchanan limited Liberty to four hits in pitching a complete game as UNC Asheville Bulldogs downed the Flames, 4-2, Saturday afternoon in the second game of a Big South doubleheader at Greenwood Field.
Making his third start of the season, Buchanan went the distance for the first time this season. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, while striking seven and walking five. He raises his recorded to 4-4 on the season.
Liberty falls to 12-9 in the Big South Conference and 34-17 overall, while UNC Asheville moves to 10-11 in the Big South and 23-28 overall. With the win and a Charleston Southern loss, the Bulldogs secured a spot in the upcoming Big South Baseball Championship.
Just like in the first game, UNC Asheville scored the first run of the contest as the Bulldogs struck for a two-out run. A single by Joe Pellington scored Brett Robinson, who led off the inning, to take an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs added to their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kevin Mattison singled up the middle to open the frame. The next batter Matt Henson doubled to left field which the left fielder mishandled allowing Mattison to score. Henson later scored on a ground out by Kyle Smith for a 3-0 lead.
After holding the Flames scoreless through five innings, Liberty broke through against UNC Asheville starter Ben Buchanan with two runs in the sixth to cut the Bulldogs’ advantage to 3-2. Chad Miller (Sr., 3B, Wheat Ridge, Colo.) opened the inning with a walk and swiped second base. The third baseman then stole second and scored as the throw from the catcher sailed into left field. With one out, Aaron Grijalva (r-So., DH, Redlands, Calif.) walked and stole second. Phillip Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) followed with a double into the right field corner to bring home Grijalva.
The Bulldogs upped their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Catcher Edmund Locklear walked and scored as next batter Steve Burnich doubled to the left field corner.
Liberty starter Ryan Page (So., LHP, Cranberry Twp., Pa.) took the loss falling to 8-2 on the season. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits in four innings. Tyler Light (Fr., RHP, San Bernardino, Calif.) followed with four innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits.
The Flames return home to Worthington Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for the last non-conference game of the regular season as they will host the Richmond Spiders. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
- By ballcoach15