Bucs Rally Past Flames, 7-4

LYNCHBURG, VA-  After battling the weather all weekend, the Flames and Buccaneers were able to play one of their two scheduled games on Sunday afternoon.  The Bucs took an early lead and never looked back as they took a win over the Flames by a final of 7-4.  The win moves the Bucs to 8-8 on the season with a 3-2 mark in the Big South, while the Flames move to 10-4 and 1-1 in league play.

CSU’s Keith Hustedt (1-0) would take the win for the Bucs from the mound, while Teufel would tally the loss after 3.2  innings of work, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits.  Tyler Thornburg would earn his first save of the season as well.

First baseman Nick Chinners lead the way for the Bucs from the plate going 3-5, while designated hitter Derek Smith would tally two RBI on his two hits.

Liberty’s third baseman Tyler Bream would lead the Flames going 3-3 at the plate and scoring one Flame run, while teammate Curran Redal would tally two of the Flames’ three RBI.

The Bucs would start the game off quickly with a run in the first inning on a ground out from Thornburg to drive home lead-off batter Scotty Radabaugh from third.  The Bucs would add to their 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth with two more runs from Thornburg and freshman Patrick Dolan.

The Flames would cross their first run of the evening in the bottom of the fourth inning, but not allowing the Flames to get too close, the Bucs’ would add another in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead.  Center fielder Tom Burkett would round the bases after a walk at the plate and steal at third base.  Smith would reach base and tally the RBI as Burkett reached home.

The Flames, however, would answer in the bottom of the sixth inning and come within one run of the Bucs when the Flames’ Redal doubled down the right field line to drive home a 2RBI, cutting the Bucs’ lead, 4-3. 

The Bucs would find a run in each of the reaming three innings, while holding the Flames to only one more run, giving the Bucs a three run cushion.   Burkett would round the bases for the second time of the game in the seventh, after hitting his fourth homer run of the season, putting the Bucs up 5-3. Dolan would follow in eighth with his second run of the evening on an RBI double down the left field line from senior Jake Cox.  It was Cox’s only hit of the game.  Smith would round out the game bringing home Kory Morian for his second RBI of the evening.