Liberty takes doubleheader from CSU in baseball

David Perkins hit two homeruns on Saturday

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Liberty University swept both games of a Big South Conference doubleheader with Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game, 13-6, and taking the nightcap, 7-2. With the wins, Liberty takes the series, two games to one.

Liberty ends the day with a 28-9 record overall and 8-4 in Big South play. Charleston Southern drops to 14-28 overall, 8-10 in league play.

In game one, Liberty used three singles, a wild pitch and three walks to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Flames added an unearned run in the fourth and Aaron Grijalva’s solo homerun in the fifth gave Liberty a 5-1 lead.

The Flames put game one out of reach in the sixth with four runs. Catcher Abe Yeakel delivered the big blow, a three-run homer to right off CSU reliever Andrew White. Left fielder Phillip Laurent added a three-run homer in the seventh for a 13-1 lead.

Charleston Southern scored four runs in the seventh, three on a David Perkins homerun to left center, cutting the lead to 13-5. Keith Stewart belted his third homerun of the season in the ninth.

Grijalva had four hits in the game while Yeakel tallied three in the first game. CSU’s Justin Fyle and Wes Brundridge each extended their hitting streak to 14 games.

Liberty starter Phillip Thompson (6-3) earned the victory, allowing 10 hits and five runs over 6 2/3 innings of work.

CSU starter Ryan Sowers (4-4) took the loss on the hill, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Liberty took an early 2-0 lead in game two before CSU’s Perkins blasted his second homerun of the day, a two-run shot in the sixth to tie the game.

Chad Miller answered in the seventh for Liberty with a solo homerun, giving the Flames a 3-2 lead. Liberty went up 4-2 when shortstop Tommy Bussey delivered a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning.

Liberty put the game away with three runs in the ninth, keyed by a two-run homerun down the right field line by Grijalva.

Liberty’s Tim John earned the win in relief , improving to 3-1 on the season. John pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, holding CSU scoreless on one hit.

CSU starter Josh Evans (2-6) took the loss, despite his best performance of the season. Evans allowed four runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Centerfielder P.K. Keller led the Flames with four hits in game two while second baseman Michael Just added three.

Fyle and Brundridge each went hitless in the nightcap, ending their hitting streaks at 14 games.

Charleston Southern will host Savannah State on Tuesday while Liberty hosts Longwood on Tuesday. Both games begin at 3 p.m.