FALLSBURG – Liberty, who started their season 0-2, struggled to get the bats going in their first few games, but they came alive on Wednesday afternoon as they scored 25 runs in a league win over Fallsburg.

The game opened on a catcher’s interference that granted Elliel Lima first base. He, and the two-through-four hitters would all come around to score in the first.

Fallsburg would respond with a walk, single and walk to open the home half of the first, but three consecutive strikeouts would get the Indians out of trouble in the first. 

Liberty picked up where they left off in the second, starting with the bottom of the order and grabbing five straight hits. In all, six more runs would score in the second and the score would inflate to 10-0.

Fallsburg’s bats were quiet in the second inning, as Liberty pitcher David Philips settled in. 

David Philips netted seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit over three innings of work as Liberty got a much-needed win.

Liberty added three more runs in the third inning, with patient at-bats leading to five walks in the inning.

Philips worked around a walk in the third inning and struck out three more Comets to end his day with three walks, seven strikeouts, one hit and no runs.

Liberty’s offense exploded in the fourth, nearly doubling their run total as 12 Indians came around to score.

Francisco Gonzalez came in to pitch in the fourth and closed out the game with three strikeouts, though he did hit two Fallsburg batters in the process. 

Liberty pitching combined for just one hit and 10 strikeouts over four innings.

The Comets left seven runners stranded in the contest. Liberty left eight runners on base.

“It was a solid league win for us,” Liberty coach Joe Franke said. “Every player was involved in the offensive effort.”

Franke went on to talk about the first two games and their solid defense and pitching, it was just the hitting that was slow-going.

“The players spent a lot of time this winter in the batting cages and have really committed themselves to becoming better hitters. It was nice to see that hard work pay off with an 18-hit game.”