Right-hander Garret Price carried a no-hitter into the seventh, as the Liberty Flames throttled the Campbell Camels, 9-1, Friday evening at Jim Perry Stadium.
Price held the Camels hitless through 6 1/3 innings and was perfect through the first five innings, facing the minimum of 15, before a Liberty fielding error broke up the run to open the bottom of the sixth.
Making his first start of the year, Price runs his record to 4-2 on the season. He ended up allowing one run on two hits over 7 1/3 innings, leaving with the base loaded in the eighth. The right-hander struck out seven and walked two batters.
Price’s effort comes just seven days after the sophomore was hit in the face with a liner in a relief appearance at Presbyterian.
Shortstop Cam Locklear hit his third home run of the season in the contest.
Winners of three straight contests, the Flames raise their record to 6-4 in Big South play and 17-11 overall. Campbell, who entered the weekend on top of the conference standings, drops to 8-2 in Big South action and 15-15 overall.
Liberty roughed up Camels right-hander Allan Winans, who entered the game as the Big South ERA leader, for five runs in the top of the first. The first three Flames each singled for the game’s first run. Center fielder D.J. Artis and second baseman Trey McDyre opened the contest with back-to-back singles. Catcher Tre Todd followed by lining a single through the right side of the diamond to plate Artis for a quick 1-0 edge. Two batters later, Locklear brought home a run with a bases-loaded ground out and designated hitter Logan Mathieu ripped a two-run single into right for a 4-0 advantage. Liberty tacked on another run on a two-out double down the right field line to score Mathieu, as the Flames surged out to a 5-0 lead.
Liberty added two more runs in the second. With one out, Artis walked and McDyre reached on a throwing error by Campbell third baseman Tyler Anshaw. After both runners executed a double steal, a passed ball allowed Artis to come in, upping Liberty’s advantage to 6-0. Two batters, Allen lined a single into right, plating McDyre for a seven-run cushion at 7-0.
The Flames’ Locklear led off the fifth inning with a blast over the left field wall, lengthening Liberty’s lead to 8-0 while added another run in the top of the eighth on a double by left fielder Jonathan Embry and a run-scoring single by first baseman Dylan Allen for a 9-0 lead.
Campbell ruined Price’s shutout bid in the bottom of the eighth. The first three Camels reached to open the inning and scored their lone run of the game when third baseman Tyler Anshaw walked with one out.
The Camels’ Winans falls to 3-4 on the year. The right-hander gave up eight runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two batters.
Liberty collected 13 hits. McDyre had three hits, scored two runs and stole two bases. Both teams committed two errors each.
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