LYNCHBURG, VA—Liberty took the rubber game from visiting NJIT, 8-1, to take the three-game series, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

With the win, Liberty improves to 17-6 overall, 2-1 in the ASUN while the Highlanders drop just below .500, 8-9-1 overall, 1-2 in the ASUN.

NJIT recorded its first ASUN Conference victory Saturday afternoon, 9-2, paced by sophomore LF Julio Marcano who went 3-for-5 with four RBI.  NJIT scored four runs in the second, two in the seventh and three in the ninth, behind strong pitching from starting right-hander Tyler Stafflinger (1-1) and relievers Joe Georgini and Bryce Short.

The home team started off the scoring with three runs in the third, single runs in the fifth and sixth for a 5-0 lead.  NJIT scored its lone run of the game in the top of the seventh, on a solo shot to left field by C Paul Franzoni.  The Flames added a pair of runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth, cruising to an 8-1 victory.

Franzoni, the NJIT catcher and co-captain, drove in the only run of the game for the Highlanders, in the seventh, registering his fourth home run of the season.  The sophomore finished 1-for-4 with one RBI.

The Highlanders 3B David Marcano went 3-for-4 (all singles) while three Highlanders recorded a hit – SS Brett Helmkamp (1-for-4), 1B Nick Hussey (1-for-4) and 2B Jared Donnelly (1-for-2).

Starting pitcher Sean Lubreski (2-4) took the loss for the visitors, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing seven hits, four runs while striking out three Flame batters.  Freshman Hunter Harris, the fifth pitcher for NJIT, entered the game in the seventh, with runners on first and second.  Harris faced five batters in the inning, letting up one hit and striking out one batter.

NJIT will return to action on Tuesday when the Highlanders face Seton Hall at 3:30pm.