Liberty drops two of three at home to Kennesaw State with the Owls making comebacks in both of their wins to take the series. The Flames fall to 25-20 overall and 7-11 in CUSA play.
TUESDAY: WAKE FOREST 6, LIBERTY 4
After the Flames plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game, Demon Deacon designated hitter Luke Costello hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to take back the advantage. Wake Forest would add two more runs in the seventh inning to secure the victory.
Camden Troyer had a game-high three hits, including his ninth home run in the eighth inning for the Flames’ fourth run. Jaxon Sorenson also belted a home run, his team-leading 12th of the season.
Liberty reliever Cooper Harrington takes the loss. The second of five Liberty pitchers int he game, he allowed one run on one hit over 2.1 innings. With the win, Wake Forest earns a split in the season series between the two clubs. Liberty defeated the Demon Deacons 11-8 at Liberty Baseball Stadium on March 18.
FRIDAY: KENNESAW STATE 10, LIBERTY 9
The Flames jumped out to an early 7-1 lead but could not hold it as the visiting Owls scored three runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to take a 9-7 advantage. Liberty fought back to tie the game at 9 with runs in the sixth and seventh innings, only to see Kennesaw State push across the go ahead run in the eighth inning on a ground ball double play. In the bottom of the eighth, the Flames advanced a runner into scoring position, but Owl reliever Daniel Powell was able to retire the next batter to preserve the lead. Bo Rhudy then pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the win for the Owls.
Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh had two hits and walked twice in the game. He hit his second home run of the season and scored four times. Joseph Webb, the third of four Liberty pitchers in the contest, takes the loss. He gave up four runs on five hits over 3.2 innings while striking out two and walking one.
SATURDAY: LIBERTY 6, KENNESAW STATE 3
The Owls jumped out to an early lead with a game-opening double from Nate Anderson who came around to score in the top of the first. Liberty answered and scored the tying run in the home half of the same inning, scoring one run without a hit recorded. The Flames would take control of the game scoring on a bases loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth and then tacking on three more runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.
Kennesaw’s Donovan Cash had two home runs and drove in all three runs for the Owls in the losing effort. Liberty starter Ben Blair picked up the win to improve to 5-2 on the year. He pitched 6 innings while allowing four hits and two runs while striking out nine. Josh Swink recorded his second save of the season while allowing one run on three hits across three innings. Nick Barone was 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBI. Camden Troyer and Tanner Marsh also had two hits.
SUNDAY: KENNESAW STATE 15, LIBERTY 7
The Owls broke out for 15 runs paced by an 8-RBI day from Nate Anderson to defeat the Flames in Lynchburg and take the series, 2-1. Liberty starting pitcher Dylan Mathiesen only lasted 3.2 innings and gave up 7 earned runs, the most runs he has allowed in any game this season.
The Flames took the lead 5-0 through two innings, but, just like Friday’s series opener, the Owls came right back. They scored one in the third on an Anderson solo home run and then took the lead thanks to six runs in the fourth, highlighted by an Anderson grand slam. Kennesaw then scored two in the sixth, four in the seventh, and a single run in both the eighth and the ninth to seize control.
After Mathiesen, Liberty utilized six pitchers out of the bullpen. They combined to allow 9 hits and 8 runs in 5.1 innings. Seth Christmas paced the Flames with three hits in his four at bats while Camden Troyer was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Up Next: This coming week, the Flames play in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Liberty will then head to Huntsville, Texas for a three-game series at Sam Houston beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Current CUSA Standings (entering the weekend)
Dallas Baptist……..13-5, 30-13
Kennesaw State……12-6, 22-21
Louisiana Tech…….11-6, 26-17
Western Kentucky…11-7, 34-10
NMSU…………………..10-8, 22-22
FIU………………………9-8, 26-18
Jax State……………..9-9, 26-18
Liberty…………………7-11, 25-19
Middle Tenn………….4-14, 19-25
Sam Houston……….3-15, 9-35
