Kent State University
11-4
Liberty University
12-7
Lauer Dominates in Exciting 2-0 Finish at Liberty
3/18/2016 8:01:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Eric Lauer lived up to his billing in an ESPN3-broadcast start Friday night, going 8.1 innings with three hits, one walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts in his second shutout of the season, a 2-0 win.
The game wasn't without drama, as the Golden Flashes escaped in the bottom of the 9th. With runners on second and third and one out, Lauer was removed from the game and Zach Willeman came in to pitch. A walk loaded the bases. In the next at-bat, a ground ball that looked to be a game-ending double play was thrown out wide out of play after the out was made at second base. As the Liberty fans cheered thinking the game was tied, interference was called on the runner, making the double play complete and ending the game in a 2-0 Flashes' victory.
Kent State's runs came in the 1st and 4th innings. Mason Mamarella led off the game with a walk, moved to second on an error, advanced to third on a groundout then scored on another groundout as Luke Burch got the RBI. In the 4th, Zarley Zalewski slammed a shot to right center field to make it 2-0.
Lauer earned his third win of the season while Willeman grabbed his fourth save. The Flashes' had four hits on the day, one each by Zalewski, Dylan Rosa, Conner Simonetti and Sam Hurt.
The teams will meet again for two games beginning at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lauer, Eric (3-1)
L: MITCHELL, E. (1-2)
S: Willeman, Zach (4)
Batting:
HR: Zalewski, Zarley 1
RBI: Burch, Luke 1 ; Zalewski, Zarley 1
SH: Hurt, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mamarella, Mason 1 ; Zalewski, Zarley 1
HBP: Schuler, Pete 1
Batting:
2B: SHEPHERD, W. 1
Base Running:
SB: ARTIS, D.J. 1
