Liberty baseball saw its road trip to the Carolinas come to the end, but the losing continued as the Flames have now lost seven straight. Liberty was swept by No. 11 East Carolina over the weekend in Lynchburg, Virginia at Liberty Baseball Stadium, dropping the team’s record on the year to 5-10.

TUESDAY: CHARLESTON 8, LIBERTY 2

The host Charleston Cougars plated four runs in the second and another four in the eighth for their victory, the first ever meeting in the series, which closed out a give-game road trip for the Flames.

DH Todd Hudson had two hits and drove in a run for the Flames in the contest, his second multi-hit game of the year. Right fielder Camden Troyer singled and walked in the contest. Liberty starter Ben Blair took the loss. The right-hander allowed four runs on eight hits over four innings. He struck out one and did not walk a batter.

FRIDAY: NO. 11 EAST CAROLINA 9, LIBERTY 5

East Carolina All-American pitcher Trey Yesavage held the Flames to one run on three hits over six innings as he remains unbeaten on the season, picking up the win to improve his record to 3-0.

Liberty starter Cole Hertzler gave up four runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. ECU first baseman Carter Cunningham had three hits and drove in a career-high five runs in the game. Outfielder Bristol Carter joined Cunningham with three hits. He scored twice for the Pirates.

Liberty broke through for a run to cut its deficit to 4-1 in the sixth, only to see East Carolina plate five in the eighth. The Flames countered with four runs in the ninth, attempting to make a furious late comeback that fell short.

Liberty catcher Macaddin Dye had two hits and drove in two runs in the contest. The Flames left nine men on base.

SATURDAY: NO. 11 EAST CAROLINA 5, LIBERTY 3

Liberty jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first four innings, adding single runs in the first, second, and fourth. Brian McClellin scored twice.

Liberty starter Nick Moran held the Pirates scoreless through the first five innings before ECU scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game at 3. The Pirates then took the lead on a throwing error in the seventh. Moran would take the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits. He struck out six and walked two. His 6.2 innings pitched was the longest outing of Moran’s career.

In the ninth, the Flames had the tying runs on base with two outs, only to see East Carolina reliever Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman get the next batter to fly out to close out the visitors’ victory.

Liberty CF Kane Kepley, LF Noah Rabon, first baseman Brian McClellin, and shortstop Tanner Marsh each had two hits in the contest for the Flames. Both of Rabon’s and McClellin’s hits in the contest were doubles.

SUNDAY: NO. 11 EAST CAROLINA 8, LIBERTY 4

Liberty carried a 4-2 advantage into the fifth, only to see ECU plate three runs in the top of the inning to take a lead that they would never relinquish, coming from behind for a second straight day to complete the sweep of the Flames at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

After the Pirates opened the game with two runs in the first, Liberty took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning on a home run by right fielder Camden Troyer. The Flames added a run in the third to extend the lead to 4-2.

Troyer had two hits, his second home run of the season and a double. He drove in three runs and scored twice. Freshman catcher Macaddin Dye had three hits in the contest, his first three-hit game of his collegiate career. He has reached base in every game this season.

Garrett Horn took the loss. He gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out five and walked two. Ben Blair pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Up Next: The Flames continue an 8-game homestand this week as Liberty hosts UNC Asheville on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. Liberty then hosts Canisius for a three-game series beginning Friday with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. The series continues on Saturday at 2 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Dallas Baptist……..13-2
Louisiana Tech……13-3
Sam Houston……….11-5
Western Kentucky…11-6
NMSU…………………..9-6
FIU………………………..9-7
Middle Tenn………….8-7
Jax State……………..6-8
Liberty…………………5-10