Amherst grad earns victory for Liberty

Former Amherst Lancers baseball standout Steven Evans took the mound for Liberty University on Friday under the lights against visiting Big South Conference rival Winthrop with the chance to fan the Flames to the top of the Big South standings as Liberty trailed the Eagles coming into the three-game weekend series by half a game.

It wasn’t his best effort. He didn’t have his best stuff, allowing four runs over the first two innings and five runs in all, but Evans does what an ace does. He battled Winthrop with everything he had for six innings to save the bullpen, earn the victory and help set the tone for series with the Eagles that the Flames swept with an 8-5 victory in game one.

That is what Liberty coach Jim Toman has come to expect from his sophomore left-hander.

“We swung the bats pretty good and Steven battled for us,” Toman said. “We were about ready to take him out four different times, but I kept saying, ‘I’ll give him one more batter,’ and he kept getting them out.”

Evans let his defense work for him as the Flames turned double plays in the third, fifth and sixth innings to get out of trouble.

“I didn’t have my good stuff early,” Evans said. “So it was nice to have (his defense) behind me. They made some big-time plays behind me tonight.”

“He didn’t have his good stuff early, but he kept battling and ended up giving us six innings,” Toman said. “He really (stayed out there) and competed for us.”

Last year Evans was 3-3 with three saves. He worked 59.2 innings and had a 4.07 ERA, but when the Flames were facing elimination in the Big South’s tournament against the top seed, Coastal Carolina, Toman handed the ball to Evans and the freshman pitched a gem. He went eight innings, allowed one run, three hits, four walks, struck out seven Chanticleers and most importantly forced a second game by picking up the win and forcing a second game that day, where the winner took home the Big South title.

Coastal defeated the Flames in the second game to earn the trophy, but Evans established himself as a pitcher Toman could count for this season and Evans presence has become even more important as injuries have taken their toll on the Flames pitching staff. In particular, an injury to Dustin Umberger, who was expected to be Liberty’s top starter, forced him out after having pitched in just one game this season.

Evans has done a little bit of everything for Toman this season as he has worked his way into the role of the prestigious Friday night starter. He has appeared in 11 games, starting eight and going the distance in some of those assignments. Evans also jumped out to a 6-2 record with 3.48 ERA and notched one save.

“We’ve had five or six pitchers go down and we thought he gave us our best bet tonight,” Toman said. “Early in the year we were probably leaning on him a little too much, which may have led to the dip in his velocity, but he’s getting plenty of rest now and getting back to where he was earlier in the year.”

“Somebody had to step up,” Evans said. “Our numbers were down and the freshmen were still settling in. It’s tough pitching on short rest, but I got through it.”

Evans is a classic lefthander on the mound.

“He’s a command pitcher,” Toman said.” He probably won’t break 92 mph, but he has three pitches –– a fastball, slider and change-up that he can locate. He keeps the ball down and doesn’t hurt himself with walks.”

The Flames have three, three-game, Big South series left this season. The first two are on the road at Garner-Webb (this week) Coastal Carolina (May 1-3) and Liberty hosts Radford (May 14-16) leading into the conference tournament May 19-23 at UNC-Asheville.

Liberty is 26-12 overall and 14-3 in the Big South. Coastal Carolina is ranked 14th in the country and the Chanticleers are 30-8 and 10-2 in conference. Winthrop is 24-15 and 12-6 in the BSC.

“I’m just worried about getting a Big South championship,” Evans said. “That and getting to a (NCAA) regional would be great. If we keep swinging the bats the way we are right now, we’ve got a chance.”

Evans knows that he will have plenty of support as his family and friends make the short trip across the James River to cheer for him and the Flames.

“I love it,” Evans said. “It’s nice to know that I have mom and dad watching and the support of everybody. I love being able to get out here and pitch against top competition. It’s nice to get a little adrenaline rush.”