CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tyler Thornburg had a quality start on the mound, but the offense couldn't seem to get any runs across the plate as the Charleston Southern baseball team fell 4-1 to Liberty University Saturday evening at CSU Ballpark.

The Buccaneers (17-28, 6-13 Big South Conference) mustered only five hits, but the home squad stranded 10 base runners in the loss and recorded two costly errors. The Flames (36-12, 17-3 Big South) recorded eight hits and finished the game without an error.

Liberty struck first with two runs in the second frame. Jeff Jefferson doubled to lead off the inning, and Nathan Thompson reached on an error to put two aboard with no outs. Thornburg struck out Michael Robertson, but Kenneth Negron singled up the middle to bring home both Jefferson and Thompson and put the road team ahead.

Charleston Southern loaded the bases in the home half of the frame with no outs, but the runners were stranded as Liberty starting pitcher Shawn Teufel sat down the next three batters in order to end the threat.

The Buccaneers were able to break through in the fourth following an RBI triple for Jesse Cadenhead, his first-career three-bagger. Cadenhead stood on third with no outs, but his teammates were unable to bring him home as Liberty got out of the inning with the 2-1 lead.

Liberty added two insurance runs in the seventh following a crucial error by Patrick Dolan. Negron walked and stole second to lead off the inning, and the Buccaneers were able to sit down the next two batters.

Tyler Bream stepped up to the plate and sent a long fly ball to left field. Dolan got under it in time, but he dropped the ball and Negron was able to score on the mistake. Bream would later score on a single from Justin Richardson.

Charleston Southern had other opportunities late in the game to make some noise, but the home squad couldn't quite figure out the Liberty pitching as the road team held on for the 4-1 victory.

Nick Chinners led the way for CSU with a 2-for-3 day. Cadenhead picked up the lone RBI and Dolan scored the lone run.

Thornburg (5-3) pitched six innings and allowed just two runs (one earned) on only four hits. He struck out eight batters and walked just three. Charlie McCready entered in the seventh and recorded one out, while allowing an unearned run. Cadenhead threw the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run and giving up four hits.

Teufel (10-1) gave up just one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Josh Richardson blanked CSU in the final 2 1/3 innings, picking up his sixth save of the year.

Negron was the lone Flame to record multiple hits, as he ended the day 2-for-3. He had two RBI and scored once. Three other Liberty batters scored and Justin Richardson recorded the other run batted in.

First pitch for the series finale between the Bucs and Flames is set to take place at 2 p.m. May 9. Andrew White (1-4, 5.69) is scheduled to pitch for Charleston Southern, and Liberty will counter with Dustin Umberger (1-2, 5.06).