Stellar pitching gives Flyboys win over Burlington

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Riley Taylor (Oklahoma State) turned in his longest outing of the season while Caswell Smith (College of Charleston) earned his third save of the year as the Flyboys held off the Burlington Sock Puppets to earn the 7-5 victory on Friday, July 22.

The Flyboys (22-22) scored in the bottom of the first inning for the second night in a row, as a ground out by Ian Daugherty (Oklahoma State) scored Myles Smith (UC Irvine) to give Greeneville the 1-0 lead.

It was déjà vu for the Flyboys in the bottom of the second, as a ground out by Cameron LaLiberte (Arizona) scored Maddox Mihalakis (Arizona) to push the lead to 2-0.

Greeneville finally scored a run off a hit in the bottom of the third, as a Jack O’Reilly (Villanova) two-RBI double scored Brock Daniels (Missouri) and Daugherty, swelling the advantage to 4-0.

Burlington (32-12) took advantage of two errors by the Flyboys in the top of the fourth, with Justin Colon (Missouri) scoring the first run of the day for the Sock Puppets off a throwing error by Taylor. A fielding error by Mihalakis later in the frame allowed Ryan McCrystal (ECU) and Kole Meyers (Troy) to score two more runs, cutting the Greeneville lead to 4-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Flyboys answered, beginning with a Mihalakis double to score Dub Gleed (UC Irvine) to make it 5-3. A throwing error by Colon allowed Mihalakis to come home on the next at-bat, and then an RBI single by Smith brought home LaLiberte, swelling the Greenville lead to 7-3.

With runners at first and second in the top of the eighth, McCrystal recorded his thirteenth RBI of the season against the Flyboys with a two-RBI single to cut the lead to 7-5.

After Yadi Hernandez (Seton Hall) opened the top of the ninth with a leadoff single, Caswell Smith responded with back-to-back strikeouts before forcing a flyout to center field to end the game and preserve the win for the Flyboys.

Taylor (2-0) earns the win, going seven innings giving up five runs, only two of those being earned, walking one and striking out six. Caswell Smith earns his third save of the year, allowing one hit and striking out two in the ninth inning. Jack Liberio Jr. (RCSJ-Cumberland) went one inning in relief, giving up one hit.

David Harrison (NC State) (1-1) was handed the loss, going three innings, giving up four runs off six hits and striking out four. Daniel Frontera (Seton Hall) went three innings, giving up three runs, one of those being earned, off five hits and striking out two. Peter Gallo (Saint Joseph’s) closed out the game for the Puppets, going two innings, walking one batter and striking out four.

The Flyboys will close out the week with a two-game set against the Bristol State Liners beginning on Saturday, July 23. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.. The first 500 fans at the gate will receive a free t-shirt. Fans can purchase tickets for the game online at flyboysbaseball.com.