FLORENCE, Ala. -- Liberty scored seven runs in the second inning and went on to a 16-2 ASUN Conference baseball win over North Alabama at Mike Lane Field in the opening game of a three-game series.

The Flames, 23-6 overall and 6-1 in the ASUN, followed the seven-run second inning with four runs in the third two in the fourth, and single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

North Alabama, now 6-23 overall and 1-6 in the ASUN, scored a run in the second and one in the fifth.

In the second, Tate Mathis got a leadoff double and scored on a Landon Langston RBI-double.

In the UNA fifth, Davis Elliott singled and later scored on a Mathis RBI-single.

Mathis led UNA's nine-hit attack with three and Elliott and Kevin Brenning had two each.

Liberty finished with 17 hits, led by a four-for-five performance by Gray Betts.

Liberty's Andrew McInvale (7-0) got the win, pitching seven complete innings and allowing two runs on nine hits. He walked three and struckout nine.

UNA starter Kyle Moore (0-3) took the loss, giving up seven runs on four hits in just an inning and two-thirds. He walked six batters.

North Alabama and Liberty play game two of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.


Tate Mathis (35) scored UNA's first run in the second inning