Campbell catcher Zach Minnick makes a tagout at the plate to end a five-run first inning for Liberty. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
BUIES CREEK — Campbell was held to just two hits as Liberty took the Big South Conference baseball series opener from the Camels 9-1 on Friday night at Jim Perry Stadium.
Flames right-hander Garret Price (4-2) tossed a gem, giving up just one earned run on two hits over seven and one-third innings. The sophomore from Evington, Va. had seven strikeouts.
Redshirt senior Allan Winans (3-4) took the loss, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in five innings.
Matthew Barefoot broke up the Liberty no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh with a single through the left side. Bryce Myers tallied Campbell’s second hit on an infield single to the Liberty third baseman in the bottom of the eighth. Joe Zirolli scored CU’s only run of the game after Tyler Anshaw was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Liberty (17-11, 6-4 Big South) jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first with five hits in the opening frame. The Flames widened their lead to 7-0 on a passed ball and an RBI-single in the second inning.
LU added a run in the top of the fifth on a solo homer by Cam Locklear. The Flames crossed the plate for the final time in the top of the eighth, as D.J. Artis had an RBI-single to left field.
Campbell (17-11, 8-2 Big South) plated its only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. After Zirolli reached on a wild pitch following a strikeout, Jonathan D’Ercole drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on first and second. Myers’ single loaded the bases, then Anshaw was struck by a 3-2 pitch to send Zirolli home.
Junior lefty Phil Simpson posted another quality outing for the Camels, allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings of relief. Freshman right-hander Jamil Vanheyningen kept the Flames off the board in the ninth as Liberty went down in order.
The Camels look to even the series on Saturday (April 7) as game two is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Jim Perry Stadium.
