__Sexton sets school hits record with RBI single as team knocks off Liberty in second meeting in a week__
Following three tough losses against conference opponent Georgia State University over the weekend, the College rebounded against Liberty University at Plumeri Park Tuesday night, dominating the Flames 11-1. Senior third baseman Greg Sexton became the College’s all-time hits leader with an RBI single in the first inning.
“We played good baseball all around tonight in a game that was huge after coming off this past weekend’s losses,” freshman starting pitcher Cody Winslow said.
p. In only his second collegiate appearance, Winslow earned his first career win at the College as he pitched five solid innings, striking out four and allowing only six hits and one run. Freshman Tyler Truxell, junior Mike LaFleur, senior Warrik Staines and junior Sean Grieve all took the mound in relief to shut down the Flames for the remainder of the game.
p. “I think the key to our success tonight came from a very strong performance by our pitching staff,” junior center fielder Paul Juliano said. “We played one of our best games of the year tonight because of that effort. We’ve been hitting and putting up runs all year, and we’ve been playing some pretty good defense too. So, when our pitching staff is able to slow the opposition’s offense, we become one of the toughest teams around.”
p. Offensively, the Tribe aided Winslow’s impressive outing with 14 hits. Senior second baseman Brent McWhorter went 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs, while junior designated hitter Tim Park went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Sexton, who entered the game tied with Michael Brown, ’03, atop the career hit list with 278, followed his record-breaking single with two more hits, finishing the day 3-for-5.
p. “All year he has been our vocal leader who not only excels by example on the field, but makes his presence felt in the locker room,” sophomore first baseman Mike Sheridan said.
p. The Tribe established dominance early as McWhorter led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field. After Park singled and Sheridan drew a walk, McWhorter scored on Sexton’s single. Junior left fielder Greg Maliniak scored Park on a fielder’s choice grounder to third. In the second, McWhorter shot another double to left, advancing sophomore shortstop Lanny Stanfield to third. A two-run double from Park scored Stanfield and McWhorter, and a groundout from Sheridan plated Park.
p. “Our offense pounded the ball and forced Liberty to make plays and go to their bullpen early,” Winslow said.
p. The College maintained offensive strength throughout the contest, as Juliano, McWhorter and Park scored in the sixth, and freshman catcher Chris Jensen and Juliano scored on a McWhorter double in the seventh.
p. The Tribe returns to action this weekend at Hofstra University.
p. “The win gives us some strong momentum into the conference weekend against Hofstra. If we can stop the opposition’s offense like this consistently, we will be a force to be reckoned with,” Juliano said.
