LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Liberty Flames capitalized on a disastrous second inning by Harvard pitching to seize control early and never looked back, defeating the Harvard Crimson 9-3 in nonconference baseball Friday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The loss extended Harvard’s season-opening skid to seven games, while Liberty improved to 9-3.

The contest turned decisively in the bottom of the second inning. Harvard starter Gio Colasante, who also served as designated hitter, began the frame with a 3-0 lead but quickly lost his command. After a single by Jaxon Sorenson and a walk to Nick Barone, Colasante hit Landon Scilley to load the bases. He then walked Kyle Hvidsten to force in Liberty’s first run.

Colasante recorded a strikeout for the second out, but the floodgates opened afterward. He walked Tanner Marsh to bring in another run, then hit Ryan Drumm to force in a third, tying the game at 3-3. Colasante was pulled for reliever D. Kahn, but Kahn immediately walked Riley DeCandido and Dylan Grabowski, forcing in two more runs before finally ending the inning with a flyout. In total, Liberty sent 11 men to the plate, scoring five runs on just one hit, aided by three walks and two hit batters.

That inning provided all the cushion Liberty would need. The Flames added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to pull away. Marsh was a catalyst for Liberty, scoring three times and driving in two runs. DeCandido and Grabowski each contributed two RBIs.

Harvard’s offense, which managed seven hits, was largely silenced after scoring three first-inning runs without a hit, taking advantage of wildness from Liberty starter Ben Blair. The Crimson’s only sustained threat came in the seventh when Tyler Shulman singled and Max Lane followed with a two-run homer, cutting the deficit to 9-3. In the eighth, Dominic Brancel delivered an RBI double to score Jordan Kang, who had a perfect afternoon at the plate going 3 for 3 with a walk.

Otherwise, Harvard struggled to string rallies together, striking out 13 times and hitting into three double plays. Colasante, as the DH, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

Liberty reliever Matt Porter earned the win with three scoreless innings of work after taking over for Blair in the sixth. Kahn was charged with the loss for Harvard.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon.