Campbell Edges Liberty, 3-2

The Campbell Camels defeated the Liberty Flames, 3-2, in the first game of a Big South series, Friday evening at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Liberty entered the contest having won seven-straight Big South Conference games.

Trailing 2-0, Campbell scored three unanswered runs, including two in the seventh inning for the come-from-behind victory.

Liberty set a new stadium record with a crowd of 3,983 in attendance at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The crowd eclipses the previous mark of 2,841 set earlier this season on March 25th against Virginia.

Shortstop Dalton Britt collected two hits, both extra base hits, and scored a run for the Flames. First baseman Alex Close added two hits, one a double, and scored a run.

Liberty drops to 7-3 in the Big South and 21-13 overall. After previously winning seven consecutive games, the Flames have lost three straight. With the setback, Liberty loses a Big South series opener at home for the first time since a 6-3 setback to Radford on May 16, 2013.

Campbell moves to 8-5 in conference play and 25-10 overall. The Camels snap a two-game losing skid with the win.

The Flames took a 1-0 advantage in the second innings. Britt opened the bottom of the second by lining a triple into the right field corner. Catcher Becker Sankey followed with a double into the left field corner to give Liberty the lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Liberty extended its advantage. Close began the inning with a double. Three batters later, third baseman Sammy Taormina lined a RBI single into right field for a 2-0 Flames' edge.

Campbell cut the Liberty lead with a run in the fifth, benefitting from a Flames' error. Center fielder Cedric Mullins reached on a throwing error by shortstop Britt to lead off the inning. After catcher Steven Leonard advanced Mullins to second with a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Kyle Leady singled, moving the runner to third. Third baseman Seth LaRue then dropped a RBI single into center field to trim Liberty's edge to 2-1.

The Camels tried to tie the game up in the inning, but Leady was thrown out at home plate by Flames left fielder Nick Paxton trying to score on a single by left fielder Cole Hallum.

Campbell plated two runs in the seventh inning for what proved to be the final scored of 3-2. Leonard led off the inning with a double and scored on a triple by Leady, tying the game at 2-2. Two batters later, Hallum lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Leady and give the Camels the lead.

Liberty starting pitcher Jared Lyons falls to 5-1 on the season. The left-hander allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits over six innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Campbell right-hander Heath Bowers moves to 6-2 on the year. The senior gave up two runs on eight hits over eight innings. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

Hallum retired the side in order in the ninth to record his seventh save for the Camels.

Liberty had eight hits, while Campbell collected 11. The Flames tied a season high with five errors in the contest.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Team Stats

Alex Close

Dalton Britt

Ashton Perritt

Will Shepherd