Following the team’s first setback of the season, coming during the midweek, against Duke, Liberty dropped two of three over the weekend to Hofstra, losing the series and bringing the team’s record to 4-3 on the season.

FRIDAY: HOFSTRA 9, LIBERTY 7

Liberty fell behind, 7-1, in the 4th inning against Hofstra before scoring six straight to tie the game before the Pride scored two in the 8th inning to secure their first victory of the season.

Reliever Dylan Mathiesen took the loss for the Flames. The fifth Liberty pitcher in the contest, he gave up two runs on one hit over two innings. Trey Carter, making his first appearance of the season, pitched three innings of scoreless relief.

The Flames scored six unanswered runs to tie the contest in the sixth, only to see Hofstra third baseman Santino Rosso hit a two-run home run in the eighth to defeat the Flames on Friday afternoon. Liberty cut its deficit to 7-5 with a four-run fourth inning and pushed across single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to knot the game at 7.

Flames’ first baseman Brayden Horton was the only player in the contest with three hits. He hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot, during Liberty’s four run fourth inning. Center fielder Kane Kepley had two hits for the Flames and led off the game a home run.

This marks Liberty’s first loss at home this season after opening the year with a three-game series sweep over Quinnipiac at home.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 9, HOFSTRA 4

Liberty struck for eight runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and went on to pick up the win over Hofstra on Saturday afternoon to even the weekend series.

The Flames sent 11 men to the plate in the sixth, using three extra base hits, taking advantage of four walks and a hit by pitch to take an 8-0 lead. Kane Kepley led off the inning with a walk and later in the frame belted his second home run of the year, a three run shot over the right center field wall. He drove in a career high four RBI in the game and scored twice for the Flames. Cam Foster smoked a bases clearing double to push the lead to 4-0.

Garrett Horn improved his record to 2-0 on the season. He pitched six scoreless innings while allowing four hits, striking out nine and walking two. Relievers Talor Grubbs and Brian Dahlman pitched the final three innings for the Flames.

SUNDAY: HOFSTRA 12, LIBERTY 6

In the rubber match of the series, Liberty fell behind 7-0 by the 4th inning and was unable to mount a comeback, before falling to the Hofstra Pride and losing the weekend series in Lynchburg.

Liberty starting pitcher Bryce Dolby gave up 5 runs in 3.2 innings while walking three and striking out two. Trey Cooper gave up four runs in 1.1 innings pitched in relief.

Up Next: The Flames will hit the road to begin a road trip with four games away from home this week. On Wednesday, Liberty is scheduled to play at UNC Wilmington with first pitched scheduled for 4 p.m. The Flames then face former Big South rival Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina for a three game series beginning Friday at 4 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Louisiana Tech……7-0
Dallas Baptist……..7-0
Western Kentucky…6-2
Sam Houston……….5-2
FIU………………………5-3
Liberty…………………4-3
Jax State……………..3-4
Middle Tenn………….3-4
NMSU…………………..2-5