LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty shortstop Cam Locklear picked up the game-winning three-run double on a pop up that fell into no-man's land in right field as Liberty edged out Longwood, 9-6, in game one of the weekend set Friday at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
 
The Lancers went toe-to-toe with Liberty (25-15, 13-6 Big South), which entered the series tied for second place behind Campbell, but the Flames scored the final seven runs of the ballgame. The final nail in the coffin came in the three-run eighth to down Longwood (13-27, 6-13 Big South).
 
"We are disappointed that we let this one slip away from us," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "We had several opportunities to make a play or a pitch and unfortunately we didn't do it."
 
Against the Big South's leader in ERA entering the night, Longwood scored all six of their runs off of Liberty starter Garrett Price, who surrendered six runs on Longwood's 10 hits. The Lancers put together a huge five-run fifth to take the lead before Liberty rallied back to win.
 
"Offensively we had some good things going and we were able to break through with the big five-run inning," Mau said. "Hopefully we can take that hitting momentum through the rest of the series."
 
Jackson Bertsch (4-2) picked up the win for Liberty with 3.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, holding Longwood hitless in his outing.
 
Michael Catlin (3-4) suffered the tough-luck loss, surrendering three runs on five hits, all three runs scoring on the pop up by Locklear that dropped in for a three-run double in the eighth inning.
 
At the plate for the Lancers Antwaun Tucker put together a huge game going 3-for-4 on the night. The sophomore shortstop picked up a double and a pair of runs, tying his career high for hits in a game.
 
Liberty played small ball to take the lead in the home half of the first. Dylan Allen singled to start the inning and Locklear followed with a single through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt, Trey McDyre put down a bunt for a squeeze play to bring in a run, reaching as the Lancers went to the plate on the play. In the next plate appearance D.J. Artis flew out to left to bring in Locklear on a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0 Liberty.
 
The Lancers got a run back in the top of the third. Tucker pushed a bunt past the mound on the first base, reaching on a single. After a pair of ground outs moved Tucker to third, Sammy Miller singled to left to bring in a run, cutting the deficit in half.
 
Longwood batted around and exploded for a crooked number in the fifth inning to take the lead. Tucker started the frame with a single to right for his second hit of the day. After Joey Mendez showed bunt on the first two pitches the sophomore catcher doubled down the left field line to bring in Tucker and tie the game. The next batter was Jawan McAllister, who reached on a bunt base hit, but a throwing error by Liberty allowed Mendez to score on the play and for McAllister to move to second base. After Miller moved McAllister to third on a sacrifice bunt Justin Mitchell brought in a third run on a sacrifice fly to center, making it a 4-2 Longwood lead.
 
With the bases clear and two outs for the Lancers the big fifth inning continued with a double by Grant Keller, who then scored on an RBI single to left by Nate Blakeney. Mac McCafferty finished off the rally with an RBI double to right-center, making it 6-2 Lancers. Longwood scored five in the inning on six hits, batting around in the frame.
 
Liberty rallied back in the bottom of the fifth. Tre Todd started the frame with a double and Logan Mathieu followed with a walk. After a fielder's choice Jonathan Embry brought in a run on a ground-rule double to left, cutting the Lancer lead to 6-3. A wild pitch brought in a second run in the inning, but the Lancers turned a 6-4-3 doubleplay to end the frame, preserving a two-run lead.
 
Liberty cut into the lead again in the sixth. Brandon Rohrer walked and McDyre was hit by pitch to start the frame. After the Lancers went to the bullpen Artis put down a sacrifice bunt to move up both runners. Todd picked up an RBI single to cut the lead down to one at 6-5. Mathieu followed with contact on a check-swing that placed a ball in no-man's land in shallow center, which allowed McDyre to score on an RBI single, tying the game at six.
 
Liberty made its move to take the lead in the home half of the eighth. After Todd walked to start the inning, Mathieu singled through the right side, moving Todd to third on the play. Two batters later with runners on the corners and one out, pinch runner Brady Heid stole second to put the pressure on the Lancers, who then chose to intentionally walk Embry to load the bases. After Catlin induced a pop out the bases remained loaded with two outs when Locklear hit a pop up into shallow right field that dropped in between three fielders for a three-run double, making it a 9-6 Liberty lead.
 
The Lancers are back at Liberty for game two of the series Saturday. Steven Farkas (2-7) will take the mound for the Lancers opposite of Liberty freshman right-hander Noah Skirrow (3-3). First pitch Saturday is set for 4 p.m. at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
 
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