Liberty baseball took two of three games on the road at New Mexico State this weekend, continuing the team’s hot start to conference play. The Flames now sit alone atop the conference standings at 7-2 in league play and 15-16 overall.

TUESDAY: #9 DUKE 9, LIBERTY 4

The visiting Blue Devils jumped out to a 6-1 advantage through five innings and were able to outlast a Liberty rally to pick up the win Tuesday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Flames cut the lead to 6-4 in the 7th before Duke put the game away in the eighth thanks to a three-run home run by right fielder AJ Garcia. The Blue Devils take both games between the two teams this season as they also defeated the Flames, 4-2, in Durham, North Carolina on Feb. 21.

Liberty center fielder Kane Kepley led the Flames with three hits, including an RBI double. First baseman John Simmons drove in two runs with a ground-rule double for the Flames.

The Flames used eight pitchers in the contest who combined to strike out 10 and walk nine. Starter Todd Hudson took the loss as he allowed two runs on three hits over two innings. Trey Cooper pitched the only 1-2-3 innings, coming in the ninth, as he struck out the side.

Liberty catcher Macaddin Dye threw out all three Blue Devil baserunners attempting to steal in the game.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 9, NEW MEXICO STATE 3

Righty Cole Hertzler held the host Aggies in check while catcher Maccadin Dye had four hits, including a home run, to help pace the Flames to a win in the series opener on Friday night.

Hertzler won for the third time in as many outings, scattering three hits and allowing three runs, two earned, over seven innings. He struck out seven in the contest and held NMSU without a hit from the first inning with one out until the sixth inning with one out. Reliever Ben Blair gave up just one hit over the final two innings to earn his first collegiate save. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.

Dye went 4 for 5 with a double and his fourth home run of the year in the contest. He drove in three and scored twice a for the Flames. First baseman Brian McClellin and left fielder Brayden Horton also hit home runs for Liberty. McClellin hit two home runs, his third and fourth of the season. Horton’s long ball was a team-leading sixth home run of the season for him.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 15, NEW MEXICO STATE 5 (7 INNINGS)

On Saturday, the Flames belted 7 home runs on their way to a run-rule victory at New Mexico State. Liberty has hit 24 home runs in its last 10 games.

Left fielder Brayden Horton had three hits and blasted two of Liberty’s seven home runs on Saturday afternoon. Horton, who leads the Flames in home runs this season, went 3 for 4 and hit his seventh and eighth long balls of the year. Over his last 10 games, Horton has hit .500 with seven home runs and 14 RBI.

Tanner Marsh, Cam Foster, Camden Troyer, John Simmons, and Brian McClellin also hit a home run in the game for Liberty on a windy day. McClellin’s home run was a pinch hit grand slam that came during the Flames’ eight-run sixth inning.

Flames’ starting pitcher Nick Moran recorded the win. The left-hander gave up five runs, one earned, on eight hits over the first six innings. He struck out six Aggies and walked two. Trey Cooper struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning to close out the contest.

SUNDAY: NEW MEXICO STATE 8, LIBERTY 6

The Aggies salvaged the final game of the series on Sunday, picking up a win over the Flames in a back and forth contest. The loss snaps Liberty’s CUSA unbeaten streak at five.

After Liberty took a 6-4 lead in the top of the sixth, New Mexico State scored the final four runs of the game to prevent the Flames from sweeping the series. The Aggies tied the game with two runs in the sixth and took the lead for good in the seventh on a home run by center fielder Damone Hale.

Liberty first baseman Brian McClellin had two hits, including his sixth home run of the season while also scoring twice. Center fielder Kane Kepley also had two hits and drove in three runs for the Flames while third baseman Cam Foster had three hits in the game.

Ben Blair, the fourth of five Flames to pitch in the game, takes the loss. He gave up two runs on five hits over 2.1 innings while walking two.

Up Next: The Flames return to action Wednesday in Blacksburg, Virginia against in-state foe Virginia Tech with first pitch against the No. 11 Hokies scheduled for 7 p.m. Liberty then welcomes CUSA member Jacksonville State to Lynchburg for a three game series scheduled to begin Friday at 6 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Liberty…………………7-2, 15-16
Dallas Baptist……..6-3, 25-6
Louisiana Tech……6-3, 25-9
Western Kentucky…6-3, 21-11
FIU………………………..7-5, 16-15
Sam Houston……….3-6, 19-13
Middle Tenn………….3-6, 11-19
NMSU…………………..2-7, 12-18
Jax State……………..2-7, 11-20