LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Liberty Flames erupted for eight runs across the fifth and sixth innings Wednesday night, turning a tight contest into a decisive 9-3 victory over the High Point Panthers at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The Flames, who improved to 4-3, sent 10 men to the plate in a four-run fifth inning to seize the lead for good and then added four more in the sixth to pull away. The Panthers fell to 5-4 with the loss.

High Point struck first in the opening frame. Willie Ponce laced a double down the right-field line to drive in three runs, though he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. That early offense was all the Panthers would muster against a parade of Liberty pitchers until a two-run fifth.

Liberty chipped away with a run in the second on an RBI double from Tanner Marsh, making it 3-1. The game remained close until the bottom of the fifth, when the Flames’ offense broke through against the High Point bullpen.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Josh Campos ripped a ground-rule double to center field, scoring two runs to tie the game at 3-3. Marsh followed with a single to shortstop that brought in two more, the latter scoring on a throwing error by the Panthers’ shortstop, to give Liberty a 5-3 advantage.

The Flames put the game out of reach an inning later. After a leadoff triple by D. Grabowski, J. Sorenson doubled in two runs. R. Drumm followed with an RBI double of his own. Campos later added a sacrifice fly to cap the four-run inning and extend the lead to 9-3.

The offensive surge made a winner of Liberty reliever Kaleb Smith, who entered in the fifth and allowed two hits over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He was the first of three Flames relievers who combined for six perfect innings to close the game. Tyler August struck out four in two perfect frames, and Tristan Dietrich struck out two in a perfect ninth.

High Point starter Noah Zimmerman was effective, allowing one earned run over 2 2/3 innings. Jack Carey provided a bright spot for the Panthers’ staff with three perfect innings of relief, striking out four. Matt Porter started for Liberty and worked three innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Ponce finished 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs to lead High Point’s four-hit attack. For Liberty, Marsh went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and Campos drove in three runs. The Flames collected 12 hits as a team and executed two sacrifice hits.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again next Tuesday, March 3, in High Point.

Upcoming Games: High Point opens a three-game home series against Binghamton on Friday. Liberty begins a three-game home set against Hofstra on Friday.