LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Liberty Flames, powered by an eight-run eighth inning, staged a monumental comeback to defeat the Duke Blue Devils 13-10 in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday night at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The game turned from a comfortable Duke lead into a stunning reversal in the late innings, defying both a pregame projection from Interstat, which had forecast a 7-4 Liberty win, and its ELO system, which gave Duke a 53.4% chance of victory.

Duke (22-21) appeared in command early, capitalizing on Liberty defensive miscues to build a substantial advantage. The Blue Devils broke through in the second inning against Liberty starter Matt Porter. After a fielding error extended the inning, Bobby Marsh launched a two-run homer to right-center field. Jake Lambdin later added an RBI single to stake Duke to a 3-0 lead.

The Blue Devils exploded for five more runs in the third, sending 10 batters to the plate. Matthew Strand started the rally with a solo home run to left field. Marsh, Lambdin and RJ Hamilton each contributed run-scoring singles in the frame, which saw Duke amass six hits and chase Porter and reliever Brandon Dahlman. When the dust settled, Duke held a commanding 8-0 lead.

Liberty (29-11) began chipping away in the bottom of the second on Tucker Moore’s two-run double and added two unearned runs in the third on a Duke error and an RBI single from Jordan Jaffe, making it 8-3.

Duke reliever Jack Feehery then silenced the Flames’ bats, throwing four perfect innings of relief with one strikeout to preserve the five-run lead through the seventh.

The game’s defining shift began in the bottom of the seventh. Liberty scored twice, with Riley DeCandido driving in a run with a single, to cut the deficit to 8-5.

Duke responded in the top of the eighth when Hamilton singled home Lambdin, who had doubled, to extend the lead to 9-5.

Then came the bottom of the eighth, an inning of chaos and clutch hitting that saw 15 Liberty batters come to the plate. Nick Barone led off with a solo home run to left-center. After a single and a catcher’s interference call loaded the bases, Josh Campos was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Tanner Marsh lifted a sacrifice fly, and DeCandido ripped a two-run double down the left-field line to tie the game at 9.

The Flames were not done. Jaffe’s groundout brought in the go-ahead run, and Jaxon Sorenson and Barone followed with consecutive RBI singles to cap the outburst and give Liberty a 12-9 lead. The eight-run inning was fueled by five hits, two walks, a hit batter, an error and a catcher’s interference.

Duke mounted a final threat in the ninth. After Marsh delivered his fourth RBI of the night with a single to make it 12-10, the potential tying run came to the plate. Liberty closer Cooper Harrington, however, induced a flyout to end the game.

The victory was anchored by Liberty reliever Jackson Evans, who earned the win with 5 1/3 stellar innings. Entering in the third, Evans allowed just one run on three hits while striking out five, stabilizing the game and giving his offense a chance to rally.

Marsh led Duke’s 17-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs. Lambdin was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and Hamilton drove in two runs. DeCandido went 3 for 5 with two RBIs for Liberty, while Barone was 2 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs.

Liberty next travels to face Virginia on Wednesday. Duke returns home to begin a three-game series against North Carolina on Thursday.