Liberty baseball posted a 3-1 week, moving its overall record on the season to 8-11. The Flames began the week with a win over UNC Asheville and followed it up with a series win over Canisius, taking two of the three games on the weekend.

TUESDAY: LIBERTY 12, UNC ASHEVILLE 2 (8 INNINGS)

Liberty run-ruled former Big South rival UNC Asheville on Tuesday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium. With the score tied at 2 in the bottom of the 6th, the Flames plated two runs to take the lead and followed with six runs in the 7th to take control of the contest. The win snapped a seven game losing streak for the Flames and snapped a three game UNC Asheville win streak as they fall to 9-7 on the season.

Liberty third baseman Cam Foster collected three hits, one a double, and drove in two runs in the contest, while shortstop Tanner Marsh went 3 for 3 with an RBI and scored a run. Left fielder Noah Rabon joined the two Flames’ infielders with three hits in the game. He had two doubles, an RBI and scored a run in the contest.

Four Flames pitchers combined to allow two runs, one earned, over eight innings. Ben Blair, the third Liberty pitcher in the contest, picked up the win. The freshman gave up one run on three hits over 1.1 innings. He walked one. Trey Carter followed Blair and pitched two scoreless innings. Todd Hudson started the game and pitched two scoreless innings before hitting a bases loaded double in the 7th inning as the designated hitter for the Flames.

FRIDAY: CANISIUS 4, LIBERTY 0

Canisius shut out the Flames in the series opener at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium on Friday. Canisius right hander Peyton Consigil and Liberty right-hander Cole Hertzler engaged in a pitchers’ duel. The Flames just had three hits in the season.

The Griffins scored one run each in the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 8th inning.

Consigil combined with reliever Tom Peltier to hold the Flames to three hits to come away with the victory. Meanwhile, Hertzler gave up three runs, two earned, over seven innings. It was the longest outing of his career.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 12, CANISIUS 1

Maccadin Dye and Noah Rabon each had three hit games to help propel the Flames past Canisius on Saturday afternoon. Dye went 3 for 3 with three RBI and belted his second home run of the season in the fourth inning. Rabon also had three hits with four RBI. He had a two run double and a two-run home run, his first of the year. He also scored three times.

The Flames never trailed in the contest, taking a 2-0 lead int he second inning. Liberty reliever Ben Blair did not allow a hit over three scoreless innings. He retired all nine batters he faced, entering the game with two men on and two out in the fourth.

In addition to Blair, Garrett McLaughlin and Ryan Butler combined to hold Canisius to one hit over the final 5.1 innings.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 10, CANISIUS 9

After dropping the first game of the series, Liberty rallied on Sunday to take the final two games and the three game series from Canisius.

Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh led off the bottom of the 8th inning with his first collegiate home run to put the Flames on top. This came after the Golden Griffins tied the game at 9 on a three run home run in the top of the 8th. Marsh quickly returned the Flames to the lead by lining a pitch over the right field bullpen for the 10-9 advantage. Bryce Dolby then retired Canisius in order in the 9th to close out the victory.

The Flames trailed 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th before DH Todd Hudson belted a grand slam to give Liberty a 7-6 advantage. The Flames tacked on two more to carry a 9-6 lead into the 9th.

Up Next: The Flames host VCU on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. in a game that will be streamed on ESPN+. Liberty will then open CUSA play this weekend on the road at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., with games on Saturday scheduled for 4 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Sam Houston……….2-1, 13-7
FIU………………………..2-1, 11-9
Dallas Baptist……..0-0, 16-3
Louisiana Tech……0-0, 16-5
Western Kentucky…0-0, 14-7
Jax State……………..0-0, 9-10
Liberty…………………0-0, 8-11
NMSU…………………..1-2, 10-10
Middle Tenn………….1-2, 9-10