LYNCHBURG, Va.- A six-run first inning and seven-run fifth inning for Liberty told the story on Saturday afternoon, as the Flames defeated VMI by a 16-8 count in game two of the weekend Big South Conference series. With the victory, LU improves to 20-8, 2-3 in the Big South, while VMI falls to 20-8, 2-3 in the Big South.

Each of the first six Flames to come to the plate scored in the first inning, while seven of the first eight batters in the fifth did so as well. The 16 runs by Liberty are season-highs for runs allowed for VMI and runs scored by LU.

The Flames got six innings out of starter Phillip Thompson (4-3), who allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out nine. VMI starter John Phelps (1-1) could not escape the first inning, as he was charged with six runs, five earned, while retiring only one batter.

Only the LU leadoff man, Patrick Gaillard, collected three hits on the day, as he went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored. Seven Flames posted two-hit days, as they pounded out a season-high 19 hits in the game as well.

For VMI, half of the team's runs came in the ninth inning, as LU reliever Jamison Hendricks walked one batter and hit four. Robert Crumpler accounted for a team-high three RBI, with two of those coming off of bases-loaded hit by pitches, and the other off his first-inning double. Leadoff man Chad Rice led the team with two hits on the afternoon.

After Crumpler's first-inning RBI gave the Keydets the early lead, the Flames responded in a big way. A leadoff double by Gaillard was followed by a hit batsman and a fielding error that brought home Gaillard. A bunt single by Aaron Grijalva loaded the bases, before a full-count walk made the score 2-1 in favor of the Flames. Back-to-back bunt singles advanced the score to 4-1 and sent Phelps to the showers with the bases still loaded. Two batters later, a single by Errol Hollinger brought home two more runs, before Kevin Booth retired the next two batters to stop the damage at 6-1.

The Flames tacked on another in the fourth, as Gaillard doubled, then stole third base before Michael Just's two-bagger to the left-center field gap plated the LU shortstop.

The Keydets mounted a comeback in the fifth, with Crumpler bringing home the first run when he was hit by the first of three pitches on the day. Michael Roberts followed with a shot off the rightfield wall, missing a grand slam by no more than two feet. Two more runs came in to score on Roberts' blast, however a pair of runners were left on when B.T. Good and Klint Reed were unable to come up with a hit.

Liberty seized momentum for good in their half of the fifth. Twelve Flames came to bat in the highest scoring inning that VMI has allowed all year. A solo home run by Phillip Laurent led off the frame and prompted Kevin Crum to relieve Booth on the mound. After retiring the first batter he faced, Crum allowed a pair of doubles and a single before he was lifted in favor of Matt Edwards. Edwards' first batter reached on a fielding error, followed by a single and a two-run double by Michael Just before the second out of the inning was recorded. An RBI single by Laurent wrapped up the scoring in the inning to put the score at 14-4.

LU tacked on two more runs in the sixth, with Abe Yeakel's triple down the right-field line plating Phil John, while Chad Miller's double two batters later brought home Yeakel.

The ninth inning saw VMI double their run total, as Hendricks was charged with each of the four runs that scored. Cody Brown then entered to wrap up the game, hitting a batter as well while inducing a pair of sacrifice flies and a groundout to second base.

Game three of the weekend series is slated for 2 p.m. on Sunday at Worthington Stadium between the Keydets and Flames.