Liberty picked up another win in the midweek over a Top 25 foe last week, downing No. 11 Wake Forest. The Flames would then win in walk-off fashion in the CUSA opener Friday against New Mexico State before dropping the final two games of the series. The Flames are now 17-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
TUESDAY: LIBERTY 11, #11 WAKE FOREST 8
The flames erased an early deficit and then its pitching held Wake Forest in check to pick up another Top 25 midweek win against an ACC opponent. The Demon Deacons jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the first two innings, but Liberty would strike for 11 unanswered runs. The Flames plated four in the third and seven in the fourth, all the scoring they would get and need on the afternoon. It was Liberty’s first win over Wake Forest since 2021 as the Demon Deacons had won five straight in the series.
Wake Forest tried to claw their way back into the game, cutting Liberty’s lead to 11-8. However, reliefers Josh Swink, Tyler August, and Garrett McLaughlin shut down the Demon Deacons over the final three innings to close out the victory.
Tanner Marsh had two hits, two RBI and scored two runs in the game. He was joined by Camden Troyer with two hits as well as a walk and two RBI.
Jack Frankel, the second of six pitchers in the contest for the Flames, picked up the win as he improved to 4-1 on the season. The freshman right-hander gave up one run on one hit over 2.1 innings, striking out one and walking two. Swink pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one baserunner on a hit. He struck out three. August struck out two and walked one, while McLaughlin recorded his third save of the season, retiring both the batters he faced in the 9th.
FRIDAY: LIBERTY 6, NMSU 5
Jaxon Sorenson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to lift the Flames past the Aggies in the CUSA opener for both teams. After the Aggies broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the top of the 9th, Tanner Marsh earned a one-out walk before Sorenson blasted a pitch over the right field wall for the victory, his sixth homer of the season. It was Liberty’s sixth straight win, all of them coming at home, the longest winning streak of the season for the Flames.
Nick Barone and Anderson Fulk each had two hits and an RBI in the game. Liberty reliever Garrett McLaughlin, the fourth Flame to pitch in the game, records the win after allowing one run on one hit over 1.1 innings. Joseph Webb gave up one run on three hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out nine and walked one. It was his longest out of the season, his previous high was 3.2 innings on March 7 against Central Michigan.
SATURDAY: NMSU 10, LIBERTY 6
The Flames saw its 6-game win streak halted on Saturday. The visiting Aggies jumped out to a 6-2 lead through the first six innings. Liberty would cut the lead to 7-5 in the 7th. However, New Mexico State answered the Liberty comeback attempt by adding to its lead to capture the victory.
Tanner Marsh had three hits and scored twice in the game. Jaxon Sorenson had two hits, including his 7th home run of the season. His three-run blast pulled Liberty to the 7-5 margin in the 7th. Cal Early also added two hits for the Flames. The freshman belted his first collegiate home run in the 9th inning and scored twice.
Liberty used six pitchers in the contest with Ben Blair taking his first loss of 2025. He gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings while striking out five and walking one. The 10 runs are the most an opponent has scored against the Flames this season.
SUNDAY: NMSU 8, LIBERTY 7 (10 innings)
The Aggies slipped past Liberty on Sunday afternoon to take the CUSA opening series. Trailing 7-5 in the top of the 9th, NMSU scored two runs to tie the game and then pushed across a run with a two-out single by Steve Solorzano in the 10th inning for the 8-7 lead. Solorzano then retired the Flames in order in the bottom of the 10th for the victory. Solorzano started the game at first base but became the third pitcher used for the Aggies. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
Jaxon Sorenson continued his scorching play with two home runs and three RBI in the game. Sorenson hit four home runs during the series, including the walk-off on Friday. He leads Liberty and is second in CUSA with 9 home runs. Camden Troyer also hit a home run. Michael Robertson and Tanner Marsh each had two hits.
Tyler August, the fifth Flames’ pitcher of the game, takes the loss after giving up one run on two hits in the 10th inning. He struck out two. Starter Dylan Mathiesen allowed three runs, one earned, on one hit over four innings. He struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked four.
The Aggies turned a triple play in the bottom of the 8th inning. It is the first time in Liberty program history that an opponent has turned a triple play against the Flames.
Up Next: The Flames will host Virginia on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. and then play at Jacksonville State for a three-game CUSA series this weekend, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
Current CUSA Standings
Dallas Baptist……..2-1, 16-7
FIU………………………2-1, 16-9
Louisiana Tech…….2-1, 14-10
NMSU…………………..2-1, 13-11
Kennesaw State……2-1, 10-14
Western Kentucky…1-2, 21-3
Liberty…………………1-2, 17-8
Jax State……………..1-2, 15-9
Middle Tenn………….1-2, 13-10
Sam Houston……….1-2, 7-17
