Bulldogs drop opener to Liberty on Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Liberty University took advantage of eight walks to earn a 4-1 victory over the Bryant University baseball team in the series opener on Friday afternoon at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.

With the loss, the Bulldogs (2-6) have now lost six-straight overall and four-straight against the Flames (6-3).

Bryant struck in its first at-bat as junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) launched a long fly ball to right field that rode a stiff breeze over the right field wall and into the Bulldogs bullpen for a solo home run.

The Bulldog bats would go quiet, however for the next eight innings. They were set down in order in the second but were able to load the bases thanks to a single from senior Jacob Marotta (Bridgewater, Mass.) and back-to-back two-out walks. Liberty starter Evan Mitchell got a fly ball to left to end the threat and then struck out back-to-back batters to strand a pair of walks in the fourth.

Liberty was able to tie the game without the benefit of a hit in the third. D.J. Artis and Matt Allen walked, Will Shepherd was hit by a pitch and Jake Barbee fouled off several two-strike pitches before walking to force in a run.

Poor command also led to the Flames taking the lead in the fifth inning. A walk and a single put two on before back-to-back two-out walks forced in a run. Andrew Kowalo followed by knocking a 3-2 pitch up the middle for a two-run single to make it 4-1. 

Junior James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) lasted just 3 2/3 innings on Friday. He allowed one run on two hits, walked four and struck out six on the afternoon. Liberty forced him to throw 87 pitches in the game. Freshman Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.) suffered his third loss of the season, allowing three runs on just two hits after coming in for Karinchak in the fourth. Classmate Jack Ipsen (Eatontown, N.J.) tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three without allowing a hit. Bryant's pitching staff limited the Flames to just four hits in the game. 

Marotta was the lone Bulldog to finish with multiple hits as he went 2-for-3 in the game. 

Mitchell pitched the first four innings for Liberty, limiting the Bulldogs to one run on just two hits. He walked four and struck out three. Zach Clouse added four innings of scoreless relief, striking out five and walking just one. Sheperd was the only player to have multiple hits for the Flames. 

Bryant and Liberty continue their three-game series on Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.