The Liberty Flames have been selected to finish second in their first season in Conference USA, while three Flames were named to the conference’s Preseason All-Conference as announced by the league on Thursday.

Liberty was picked second in the poll, receiving 64 points overall. Dallas Baptist was the unanimous choice to win the 2024 CUSA Baseball Championship, receiving all 9 first place votes.

Last season, the Flames saw a streak of three straight trips to an NCAA Regional came to an end. Liberty finished the 2023 season with a 27-31 overall record and 16-14 mark in the ASUN.

Infielders Cam Foster and Aidan Sweatt and pitcher Garrett Horn were named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team.

Foster started all 58 games for Liberty in 2023, playing 43 games at third base and 15 games at shortstop. He hit .272 with 44 RBI and 40 runs scored. Foster had 12 doubles and 12 home runs while posting a slugging percentage of .512.

Sweatt transfers to Liberty after three seasons at North Florida. The two-time ASUN All-Conference second baseman started all 55 of the Ospreys’ games in 2023, hitting .320 with 31 RBI and 50 runs scored. He had 12 doubles, four home runs, and stole 16 bases.

Horn made 15 starts in 2023, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.09 ERA over 66 innings pitched. The two-time ASUN All-Conference second team pitcher struck out 87 and walked 47 while holding opponents to a .214 batting average.

The nine-team CUSA will play a 24-game regular season schedule with the top eight teams in the standings advancing to the CUSA Baseball Championship. The 2024 CUSA Baseball Championship will be played May 22-26 at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana. The tournament features a double elimination bracket with the winner receiving the conference’s automatic bid to an NCAA Regional.

Liberty will open the season on February 16 with a three game series at home against Quinnipiac. The Flames’ CUSA opener is March 22-24 at Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

2024 CUSA Baseball Preseason Poll
Pl.  Team (1st Place Votes) Points

  1. Dallas Baptist (9), 81
  2. Liberty, 64
  3. Louisiana Tech, 60
  4. Sam Houston, 57
  5. Western Kentucky, 48
  6. Middle Tennessee, 29
  7. Jacksonville State, 26
  8. FIU, 25
  9. New Mexico State, 15

Preseason Player of the Year: Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist

CUSA Preseason Baseball All-Conference Team
Pos. Name School
SP  Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist
SP Garrett Horn, Liberty
SP Coltin Atkinson, Sam Houston
SP Lane Diuguid, Western Kentucky
SP Dawson Hall, Western Kentucky
RP Chandler David, Sam Houston
RP Mason Burns, Western Kentucky
C  Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist
INF Miguel Santos, Dallas Baptist
INF Derrick Jackson, Jr., Jacksonville State
INF Cam Foster, Liberty
INF Aiden Sweatt, Liberty
INF Easton Lloyd, Sam Houston
OF Nathan Humphreys, Dallas Baptist
OF Keith Jones, New Mexico State
OF Jake Tatom, Sam Houston
DH Ethan Mann, Dallas Baptist
UTIL Ethan Bates, Louisiana Tech