For the second time this season, Liberty went on the road for a three-game series against a top 25 ranked opponent. Also for the second time this season, the Flames were swept in that series as Liberty dropped three at No. 12 East Carolina by a combined score of 30-5. With the losses, the Flames fall to 7-8 on the season.
Saturday Game 1: #12 East Carolina 7, Liberty 2
The Flames would strike first with back-to-back two-out doubles by Jake Lazzaro and Jaylen Guy. The Pirates would respond with two straight runs to take a 2-1 lead before Liberty tied it in the 5th as Guy led off with a double and then scored on Gray Betts’ sacrifice fly.
Things would get out of reach for Liberty in the sixth. Cole Garrett and Todd Hudson would struggle to find the strike zone, walking in two East Carolina runs with the bases loaded. Coupled with a sacrifice fly, ECU took a 5-2 lead and would coast to the win. Liberty was unable to overcome 12 walks in the game, including four in the sixth.
Saturday Game 1: #12 East Carolina 10, Liberty 2
Liberty got the first two runners on in each of the first two innings but were only able to scrape together one run. Meanwhile, the Pirates scored five runs in the first two frames and then added three more in the fourth to put this one out of reach.
Nick Moran has been really good and consistent for the Flames through the early part of the season, but it just wasn’t his day on Saturday. He gave up 8 runs on 10 hits while walking three in four innings.
Saturday Game 2: #12 East Carolina 13, Liberty 1
Like in game one, East Carolina staked itself to a lead with runs in the first inning and never looked back in the victory. East Carolina outhit Liberty, 9-3, in the contest. The Flames committed three errors and six of the Pirates’ runs were unearned. The Flames walked 15 batters in the game. Liberty starter Mikey Tepper gave up six runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked six.
Up Next: The Flames will take on No. 5 Wake Forest on Tuesday at Liberty Baseball Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. The Demon Deacons are currently 15-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference play after taking two of three against Duke this weekend. This will be Liberty’s last tune up before beginning ASUN play at Florida Gulf Coast for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
