Freedom is 1-9 against Liberty since May of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Freedom Patriots will head out on the road to take on the Liberty Hurricanes at 6:00 p.m. Both teams come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Freedom scored the most runs they've had all season to find success on Tuesday. They never let East Stroudsburg North onto the board and left with a 15-0 win. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded Freedom with their most commanding win of the season.
Matt Heineman was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Heineman has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive pitching appearances. Heineman was also big at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Freedom got a massive performance out of John Phillips, who went 3-for-3 with three runs, three doubles, and two RBI. Ryan Kullman was another key contributor, scoring three runs while going 2-for-2.
Liberty was handed a six-point loss in their previous outing, but they didn't let that bad energy affect their game against Easton Area on Monday. Liberty came out on top in a nail-biter against Easton Area and snuck past 2-0. The victory was just what Liberty needed coming off of an 8-2 defeat in their prior match.
Like Freedom, Liberty also got a great game from a two-way player: Noah Gyauch-Quirk. He kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 15 over six innings pitched. Gyauch-Quirk was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.
In other pitching news, Michael Mariano Jr. looked comfortable as he pitched an inning while giving up no earned runs or hits (he also didn't allow any walks).
Gyauch-Quirk wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Paul Erfle, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
The win got Freedom back to even at 4-4. As for Liberty, their record is now 5-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Freedom has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Liberty struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.9. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Freedom skirted past Liberty 1-0 when the teams last played last Monday. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Gyauch-Quirk, who didn't allow a single earned run and only two hits while striking out six over six innings pitched. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Freedom still be able to contain Gyauch-Quirk? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
