Liberty baseball picked up a series win at Middle Tennessee in the program’s first ever Conference USA series. It was a wild three game set that featured a no-hitter and a game where 34 runs were scored in a game. The Flames are now 10-13 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
TUESDAY: VCU 8, LIBERTY 7
Liberty led 4-1 entering the sixth inning but surrendered the late lead, falling to the VCU Rams on Tuesday at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
VCU scored four runs in the top of the eighth to take an 8-5 lead. Liberty would then cut the lead to one in the home half of the inning with two runs out a two-out pinch-hit triple by Brayden Horton. The Flames moved the possible tying run to third base twice in the ninth but could not tie the contest.
The Flames tossed 10 pitchers onto the bump utilizing a bullpen day in the midweek. Liberty center fielder Kane Kepley went 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Second baseman Aiden Sweatt had two hits, including his third home run of the year of the year.
FRIDAY: LIBERTY 11, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 6
Right fielder Brayden Horton’s grand slam highlighted a seven run seventh inning as the Flames picked up a win in its CUSA debut on Friday afternoon in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
With the Flames up 4-2 and the bases loaded, Horton started Liberty’s scoring onslaught by blasting his second home run of the season to the deepest part of the park in straight away center to push the lead to 8-2. Kane Kepley followed with his third home run of the season as the Flames sent 12 men to the plate in the inning.
Kepley finished the day with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Tanner Marsh joined Kepley with two hits while also scoring twice.
Cole Hertzler allowed two runs on five hits over six innings to record the win. He struck out a career high nine and walked two.
SATURDAY: MIDDLE TENNESSEE 10, LIBERTY 0 (8 INNINGS)
Middle Tennessee pitcher Chandler Alderman pitched a no-hitter as the Blue Raiders evened the series at 1 on Saturday afternoon. MTSU also benefited from six Liberty errors in the contest as six of Middle Tennessee’s runs were unearned. The Flames’ six errors were the most by the Flames in a game since committing seven at Virginia Tech in a 12-9 loss on May 1, 2007.
Alderman pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out 11 and walking three. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning after walking three consecutive Flames with two out. His no-hitter is the first by a Blue Raider pitcher since Feb. 21, 2004.
Liberty starter Ryan Butler picked up the loss after giving up eight runs, three earned, over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.
SUNDAY: LIBERTY 25, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 9
After being no-hit and shut out on Saturday, the Flames exploded for eleven runs in the top of the first Sunday, in the series finale, cruising to the easy win to clinch the series.
Todd Hudson opened the scoring with a double, bringing in Macaddin Dye. Foster followed with a two-run home run. Brayden Horton and Kane Kepley had back to back home runs, Horton’s bringing in three runs. Foster closed out the scoring in the opening frame with a two-run single. Liberty would also add 10 runs in the 6th inning.
The Flames set a school record with eight home runs in the contest. Kane Kepley, Cam Foster, and Brayden Horton each hit two long balls in the contest while Todd Hudson and John Simmons also joined the home run fest Sunday afternoon. The eight home runs top the previous school record of 7 set on March 27, 1998 and again on April 15, 1986. The last time the Flames scored more than 20 runs in a game was on May 14, 2022, in a 23-3 victory at FGCU.
Nick Moran records the win for the Flames. The left-hander allowed four runs on six hits over five innings while striking out four and walking one.
Up Next: The Flames return home for four games this week, beginning Tuesday against Wake Forest at 4 p.m. Liberty then welcomes Sam Houston to Liberty Baseball Stadium for the first ever CUSA home series. First pitch is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m., Friday at 4 p.m., and Saturday at noon.
Current CUSA Standings
Louisiana Tech……3-0, 20-6
FIU………………………..4-2, 13-11
Dallas Baptist……..2-1, 19-4
Liberty…………………2-1, 10-13
Sam Houston……….3-3, 16-9
Western Kentucky…1-2, 16-9
NMSU…………………..1-2, 10-13
Middle Tenn………….1-2, 9-10
Jax State……………..0-3, 9-14
