It was a very competitive series in Ruston, Louisiana, with the three games between Liberty and Louisiana Tech all decided by two runs or fewer and being in doubt until into the ninth inning. The Bulldogs would take game one and three of the weekend to take the series. The Flames fall to 24-16 overall and 6-9 in conference play.

TUESDAY: LIBERTY 10, VIRGINIA 3

Tucker Moore hit a three-run home run and John Simmons hit a grand slam to help propel the Flames past Virginia in Charlottesville at Disharoon Park. With the win, the Flames secured the season sweep over the in-state Cavaliers. It is the first time since 2000 when Liberty has won both games against the Cavaliers in a season and also the first win for the Flames in Charlottesville since 2012. Virginia had won the last 10 meetings between the two teams at Disharoon Park.

Liberty never trailed in the contest as Moore gave the Flames a 3-0 lead with his fourth home run of the season in the second inning. Simmons followed in the third with his grand slam over the center field wall, his first home run of the year to push Liberty’s advantage to 7-2.

The Flames bullpen kept Virginia in check throughout the contest, combining to allow one run on three hits over the final seven innings. Liberty used five pitchers in the contest. Reliever Josh Swink, the second pitcher in the contest for the Flames, picked up his third win of the year. He pitched two scoreless innings, yielding one hit while striking out two and walking one. Garrett McLaughlin and Trey Cooper combined to pitch three innings of scoreless relief.

Nick Barone had three hits and drove in two runs while Camden Troyer had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Jaxon Sorenson reached base three times in the game, singling and walking twice. He scored three times.

THURSDAY: LOUISIANA TECH 7, LIBERTY 6

Held scoreless and to one hit through the first six innings and after trailing 4-0, the Flames scored six unanswered runs, four in the seventh and two in the eighth to take a 6-4 lead. Jaxson Sorenson tied the game at 4 in the seventh with a two-out bases-clearing double. The Bulldogs scored three two-out runs in the bottom of the 9th for a walk-off win over the Flames in the series opener between the two teams at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. Trailing 6-4 and down to its last strike, Louisiana Tech first baseman Trey Halsey lined a two-out double down the right field corner, scoring two runs to tie the game at 6. Catcher Eli Burch followed by working a 3-2 count before singling for  the walk-off victory.

Liberty had just four hits in the contest but Louisiana Tech committed four errors and walked eight Liberty batters – four of which came around to score. Tyler August, the fourth Liberty pitcher of the contest, takes the loss. He gave up three runs on three hits over 0.2 innings. Bulldogs starting pitcher Luke Cooley pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out t seven and walking three.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 5, LOUISIANA TECH 3

The Flames scored three in the seventh and were able to withstand a ninth inning rally to pick up the win Friday night and even the weekend series. After the Flames saw the host Bulldogs score two runs int he sixth to tie the game at two, Liberty batted around, scoring three runs without a hit, benefiting from four walks, a hit batter, and a Bulldog error to take a 6-2 lead in the seventh.

In the bottom of the ninth, Louisiana Tech pushed across a run to cut the Liberty advantage to 5-3 and loaded the bases with two out. Joseph Webb then entered from the bullpen and proceeded to get Bulldog third baseman Cody Coates to pop out to the shortstop to end the scoring threat and seal the victory for the Flames.

Pitchers Jake Potts and Josh Swink keyed the Liberty win. They combined to allow three runs on eight hits. Potts gave up just one hit and did not allow a run through the first five innings. His five innings pitched are a career high. He left in the sixth with the bases loaded. Swink is now 4-2 on the season after picking up the win. He gave up one run on four hits over 3.2 innings. Meanwhile, Webb picked up his second save of the year.

Liberty drew seven walks in the game, including the four in the seventh inning. The Flames were 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Michael Gibson, Liberty’s DH, reached base four out of his five plate appearances in the game. He walked three times and singled.

SATURDAY: LOUISIANA TECH 4, LIBERTY 3

Liberty had the tying run thrown out at home and Louisiana Tech then worked out of a bases-loaded jam, all in the ninth inning as the Bulldogs hung on to win the series.

Having been held scoreless by relievers Luke Nichols and Blake Hooks since the fifth inning, Liberty’s Landon Scilley walked and stole second to open the ninth against Hooks. Tanner Marsh followed with a double that Scilley tried to score on, only to be thrown out at home by LA Tech centerfielder Garrison Berkley for the first out in the inning. The next two Flames walked to load the bases with one out for Camden Troyer. He ripped a line drive back up the middle, but it was snagged by Bulldog shortstop Will Safford, who then beat the runner on second back to the bag for a double play to end the game.

Liberty starter Ben Blair drew t he loss, dropping to 4-2 on the year. H e gave up a season high four runs on eight hits over six innings while striking out five and walking one. Louisiana Tech reliever Luke Nichols got the win after holding the Flames scoreless over the ree innings and allowing just one walk. Hooks, the CUSA leader in saves, picks up his seventh of the season after pitching two scoreless innings.

Up Next: The Flames return to action on Tuesday evening in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. This weekend, Liberty plays host to Kennesaw State for a three-game CUSA series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Western Kentucky…11-4, 33-7
Dallas Baptist……..11-4, 28-11
Louisiana Tech…….10-4, 25-15
Kennesaw State……10-5, 20-19
Jax State……………..7-8, 23-17
NMSU…………………..7-8, 19-21
FIU………………………6-8, 22-17
Liberty…………………6-9, 24-16
Middle Tenn………….4-11, 18-22
Sam Houston……….2-13, 8-32