Bulldogs fall to Liberty, 3-1, Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Liberty University right hander Caleb Evans struck out 11 over six scoreless innings to lead the Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Bryant University baseball team on Saturday afternoon at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.

With the loss, the Bulldogs (2-7) have now lost seven-straight games for the first time since going winless in seven-straight games to start the 2013 season. The Flames (7-3) have now won five-straight against the Black and Gold.

Evans was the difference on Saturday as he limited the Bulldogs to just two hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out a career-high 11. Garrett Price allowed one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings to earn the save.

Liberty produced single runs in the second, fourth and fifth to support the strong outing from its pitcher. In the second, Jake Barbee singled to put runners on the corners and Cam Locklear drove in a run with a ground out to second. Andrew Kowalo's ground out to short brought home a run in the fourth and Will Shepherd's RBI single in the fifth made it 3-0. Sammy Taormina advanced into scoring position one pitch earlier on a wild pitch.

Bryant had chances early against Evans but stranded five runners in the first five innings. Evans got a fly ball to center to strand two in the first and then struck out two in the second, the side in the third and two more in the each of the fourth and fifth innings.

The Bulldogs finally pushed across a run in the eighth inning off of reliever Eric Grabowski. Freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) and junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) opened the inning with back-to-back singles, forcing the Flames to bring on Price. Sophomore Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) knocked a single through the right side to score Ward but Angelini was eventually thrown out at second as the Flames threw the ball around. Price went on to get a ground out before retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Sophomore Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) suffered his second-straight loss after allowing three runs on five hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out three. Classmate Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) tossed two scoreless innings of relief and redshirt freshman Jack Owens (Scituate, R.I.) tossed a scoreless eighth.

Gasper and freshman Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) each finished with two hits and Ward reached twice with a single and a walk.

Shepherd and Barbee each had two hits for the Flames.

Bryant and Liberty wrap up their series on Sunday with a first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.