LYNCHBURG, Va. - The VMI baseball team (23-31, 4-19 BSC) dropped both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Big South foe Liberty University (24-30, 8-15 BSC), losing 8-4 in game one and 10-4 in game two at Worthington Stadium.
VMI jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in game one, but the Flames ran up eight unanswered runs the rest of the way to win 8-4.
A seven-run fourth inning for Liberty was the difference in game two as four consecutive RBI singles followed by a three-run home run from right fielder Carlos Garcia (9) put the Flames on top 9-0 as Liberty cruised to a 10-4 victory and sweep of the doubleheader.
In the first game, an RBI sacrifice bunt by first baseman Jonathan Hadra (Richmond, Va. / Atlee) and a run scoring single from shortstop Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) gave the Keydets a 2-0 edge in the second inning.
VMI posted another two runs to go up 4-0 in the third thanks to third baseman Kelly Sweppenhiser's (Herndon, Pa. / Line Mountain) two-run homer (9).
The Flames came roaring back to tie the game in their half of the third inning as an RBI double from centerfielder Jeremiah Boles was later followed by a three-run home run from left fielder Phillip Laurent (5) to set the score at 4-4.
LU took the lead with a run in the fifth inning and added three more in the seventh when Laurent drove in another run with a double and designated hitter Joshua Butcher added a three-run triple to give the Flames an 8-4 advantage.
Flames starter Jason Jones (4-7) settled down after giving up the four early runs and retired the last 19 of the 21 batters he faced to record both the win and his second straight complete game.
VMI starter J.J. Hollenbeck (Vienna, Va. / James Madison) (4-5) worked into the seventh inning before reliever Jimmy Thoms (Newport News, Va. / Denbigh) came in and took care of all five final Liberty batters in the game.
Keydets' right fielder Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch) connected for three doubles in the two games.
Laurent combined to go 5-for-7 in the doubleheader with two home runs, a double and six RBI's. Boles went 4-for-4 in the first game and 5-for-9 overall for the Flames.
VMI baseball's season finale is Sunday when the Keydets and the Flames meet for the third and final game of their series.
VMI will send RHP Duke Acors (2-8, 7.14 ERA) to the mound and LU will counter with RHP Chris Zuvich (3-3, 5.00 ERA).
The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.



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