Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Coastal Carolina softball team suffered a pair of tough one-run losses Saturday in a doubleheader at Liberty, dropping identical 5-4 decisions, with the second one coming in 10 innings.

The defeats snapped the Chanticleers' (28-19, 13-4 BSC) nine-game winning streak and were their first in Big South play since March 18. Liberty improved to 24-24 overall and 12-9 in the conference.

There were a total of five lead changes and three ties in the seesaw games. In the nightcap, Coastal mounted a two-out, two-run rally in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead, but the Flames tied it in the bottom of the inning. After neither team was able to score in the eighth and ninth, the Flames put one across under the international tiebreaker rule in the 10th, scoring the game-winner on a squeeze bunt.

Kory Hayden had a hit in each game to extend her streak of reaching base to 26 straight, while Bri Chiusano totaled three hits, including a 2 for 4 with two runs scored performance in the second game, and has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games.

Coastal grabbed the early lead in the second game as Chiusano led off with a bunt single, moved to third on two wild pitches and scored on a fielder's choice.

Liberty tied it in the bottom of the second on a leadoff double and a single and then took a 3-1 lead in the fourth. After a leadoff walk, Cassidy McCoy hit a hard liner back up the middle that ricocheted off starting pitcher Mackenzie Conrad and the ball rolled all the way to the left-field wall, allowing the runner to score from first. Following a walk, McCoy scored on a single to left and another walk loaded the bases with no outs. Kelsey Dominik then came on in relief and limited the damage, getting a forceout at home, a popout to second and an inning-ending flyout as Kailey Mellen tracked down a ball in right-center.

The Chanticleers got one run back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Amanda Daneker. After a Liberty error, a fielder's choice and a groundout, Daneker blooped one over the shortstop into left field to score Hayden and make it 3-2.

Coastal was down to its final out in the top of the seventh, but Chiusano singled to the left side, stole second and scored the tying run on a throwing error on a groundball of the bat of Quolas. Hayden and Morgan Noad then followed with back-to-back singles to give the Chants a 4-3 lead.

However, in the bottom of the inning Liberty got two infield hits and then a one-out single to right by Megan Robinson to even it back up. A pair of walks - one intentional - loaded the bases, but Dominik got a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch and then a grounder back to her to send the game to extra innings.

Both teams left runners in scoring position in the eighth and Chiusano and Quolas both walked to start the ninth. Liberty's Chandler Ball, who pitched a complete-game in the opener, came on to get two straight outs before a walk loaded the bases and a strikeout ended that threat. Dominik stranded two more Flames in the bottom of the inning with a called strikeout.

Coastal was unable to move the runner placed on second to start the 10th. Liberty started its half with a sacrifice that turned into the batter reaching on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners. Following a swinging strikeout, the Flames placed a bunt in front of Dominik and she was left with no chance to get the runner at home.

The Chants were held to just six hits in the game, but had 12 runners left on base. Liberty totaled 11 hits and left 11 on.

In the day's first game, Liberty took an early 1-0 edge as leadoff batter Alexia Taylor hit the first pitch she saw off the foul pole in left for her sixth homer of the season.

Coastal quickly tied it in the top of the second on a two-out RBI hit by Annie Robinson. Dominik drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a throw before coming home when Robinson singled to left.

The Flames regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer to right by freshman Madison Kotchey, but the Chanticlees rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth on three hits. Daneker led off with a double to the right-field corner and went to third on the play on an error. After Dominik walked again, Sara Rasley hit an RBI single to center, Kailey Mellen added a one-out single to load the bases and Chiusano drew a walk to even the game. Rasley then scored on a sacrifice fly by Quolas to give Coastal its first lead of the contest.

However, Liberty came back in the bottom of the inning, starting with a leadoff double by Kelby Allen. Dominik then issued a walk and a sacrifice moved the runners to second and third. Conrad came on in relief but Kotchey singled to right for the tying and go-ahead runs.

Coastal tried to come back again in the seventh as Daneker hit a one-out single. Pinchrunner Devon Steiner stole second and went to third on a groundout, but Ball got another groundout to first to end it.

The Chants outhit the Flames 7-6 in the game, but left nine runners on base in that one, compared to only three for Liberty. Daneker had two hits for CCU. Dominik allowed just five hits in 5 1/3 innings, but four of them were for extra bases. The two wins for Ball on the day gave her 17 for the season.

Coastal, which entered the series with school-record tying 70 home runs, was held without a longball for the first three times against a Big South opponent this season.

The Chants will play their final road games of the regular season at Charleston Southern on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home to host Presbyterian next weekend to close out its conference schedule.