Just one week after winning the team’s first CUSA series of the season with a sweep of Middle Tennessee, Liberty was swept in a crucial conference series at Liberty Baseball Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia by Western Kentucky. The Flames fall to 22-14 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

FRIDAY: WKU 6, LIBERTY 2

In their first ever visit to Liberty Baseball Stadium, Western Kentucky pitchers Jack Bennett and Lucas Hartman combined to hold Liberty to two runs on eight hits and strand 12 baserunners to pick up the win in the series opener. The Hilltoppers struck for three runs in the second inning to take the lead and then thwarted several Liberty scoring threats to secure the victory. WKU pitchers worked out of danger in the second inning, a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, and a threat in the seventh.

Liberty starter Dylan Mathiesen takes the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two. Meanwhile, Bennett improves to 6-0 on the year for the Hilltoppers. He gave up one run on four hits over 5.1 innings.

SATURDAY: WKU 4, LIBERTY 3

The Hilltoppers secured the series victory with their win in game two on Saturday. Liberty left runners stranded at second and third in the bottom of the 7th before Western Kentucky broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 8th. They cashed in on a lead-off double by Ryan Wideman with a squeeze bunt. WKU added an insurance run in the 9th to pick up the win. In the bottom of the 9th, with two outs, Liberty brought the tying run to the plate. However, Cal Higgins entered the game in relief for the HIlltoppers and got the only batter he faced to fly out to end the contest.

Liberty’s Ben Blair and Hilltoppers’ righty Dawson Hall dueled throughout the first five innings, each allowing two runs. Blair allowed two runs on six h its over the first seven innings. Liberty reliever Joseph Webb took the loss. He gave up two runs on two h its over two innings of work.

Camden Troyer led Liberty with two hits and scored a run in the game. Landon Scilley tied the game in the 4th inning with a two-out, two-run double.

SUNDAY: WKU 4, LIBERTY 0

Liberty loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with one out after Tanner Marsh singled, Jaxon Sorenson reached on an error, and Nick Barone walked. Camden Troyer then popped out and Landon Scilley struck out to end the threat.

In the top of the 2nd Western Kentucky grabbed control of the game. The Toppers plated four runs in the inning on four hits and one Liberty error. Reid Howard had a two run double and then scored on a passed ball. Carlos Vasquez then had an RBI single to bring the score to 4-0.

Drew Whalen was really good on the bump for WKU. He only allowed two hits through six innings while striking out six and walking two. He helped retire 15 straight Liberty batters, a streak that lasted into the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the 8th, Michael Robertson and Cal Early walked to lead off the inning. A couple batters later, Jaxon Sorenson belted a line drive shot that bounced off the top of the wall in right field and bounced over the fence for a three-run home run to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Flames though would go down in order in the 9th.

Up Next: The Flames return to action on Tuesday evening in Charlottesville against Virginia with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. This weekend, Liberty heads to Ruston, Louisiana for another crucial CUSA three-game series. The Flames take on Louisiana Tech Thursday-Saturday.

Current CUSA Standings

Western Kentucky…9-3, 31-5
Louisiana Tech…….8-3, 23-13
Dallas Baptist……..8-4, 24-11
Kennesaw State……7-5, 16-19
NMSU…………………..6-6, 18-18
FIU………………………6-5, 22-13
Liberty…………………5-7, 22-14
Jax State……………..5-7, 21-15
Middle Tenn………….3-9, 16-20
Sam Houston……….2-10, 8-28