Liberty saw its season come to an end just after midnight on the east coast when Louisiana Tech picked up the walk off win in 10 innings, 6-5. The No. 1 seed Bulldogs advance to Sunday’s CUSA Tournament Championship game against No. 2 seed Dallas Baptist.

The Flames led throughout the game and did not trail until the final play of the game. Liberty took a 4-0 lead through the first four innings, but the Bulldogs would not go away easily.

Liberty’s Cale Bolton pitched a gem, going 6.1 innings and giving up just two runs. He exited the game in the 7th with the Flames leading 4-2. Liberty would add a run in the top of the 8th, but La Tech battled back with three runs in the home half of the 8th to tie the game at 5.

The Flames had a great opportunity in the top of the 9th, loading the bases with nobody out and the meat of the lineup stepping up to bat. Macaddin Dye would strike out and then Todd Hudson hit into an inning ending double play.

Once again in the top of the 10th, Liberty threatened but could not score. Noah Rabon led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a groundout, but he was left stranded there.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Bulldogs would not let their opportunity go to waste. A single and then a two-out walk kept the inning alive. Grant Comeaux would get the RBI single to score the winning run as La Tech advances to the CUSA final.

Previously from Game 1 Saturday:

No. 1 seed and tournament host Louisiana Tech came from behind to defeat No. 5 seed Liberty, 8-7, and force the if necessary game in the CUSA Tournament semifinals. The Flames and Bulldogs will meet again Saturday night at 8:30 with the winner of that contest moving on to Sunday’s championship against No. 2 seed Dallas Baptist at 2 pm on CBS Sports Network.

Entering the game 2-0 on the week and having just defeated La Tech Friday afternoon, the Flames jumped on top in the top of the first inning with a three-run home run by Noah Rabon, his second long ball of the season.

The Bulldogs would waste no time, coming right back with a three-run shot of their own in the bottom of the first off Flames’ starter Todd Hudson to knot the game at 3. Louisiana Tech took its first lead of the game at 4-3 in the bottom of the second on an RBI double.

The home team quickly chased off Liberty starter Todd Hudson after he recorded just four outs. It was quite the contrast from the previous two days when Liberty rode the arms of starters Cole Hertzler and Nick Morans to wins.

In the top of the third, Hudson got some payback with a two-run double as the Flames retook the lead at 5-4 and it looked like we were on pace for a high scoring affair.

Louisiana Tech regained the advantage in the bottom of the third with two runs, making it 6-5. The Bulldogs added a single run in the fourth and the sixth to push their advantage to 8-5. Meanwhile, after scoring five runs in the first two innings, Liberty was blanked over the next five innings as La Tech’s bullpen held the Flames’ bats in check.

The Flames would attempt to make a rally in the top of the ninth. Kane Kepley led off with a single and was followed by a two run home run by Aidan Sweatt. The Bulldogs would bring in their closer Connor Nation who would work around a one-out single by Todd Hudson to preserve the victory.

Liberty only utilized three pitchers in the contest, keeping most of its bullpen preserved for Saturday night’s game and a potential contest Sunday. Josh Swink ate up six innings for the Flames, allowing two runs on three hits while walking five and fanning five. He also hit three batters.

CUSA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE/RESULTS

All games streamed on ESPN+ except for Sunday’s Championship game which is on CBS Sports Network

Wednesday, May 22
Game 1:  #6 FIU 7, #3 Western Kentucky 5
Game 2: #2 Dallas Baptist 5, #7 New Mexico State 3

Thursday, May 23
Game 3: No. 1 LA Tech 8, No. 8 MTSU 2
Game 4: No. 5 Liberty 9, No. 4 Sam Houston 1
Game 5: No. 3 WKU 8, No. 7 NM State 2 – NMSU eliminated
Game 6: No. 2 DBU 8, No. 6 FIU 2

Friday, May 24
Game 7: No. 4 Sam Houston 2, No. 8 Middle Tennessee 0 – MTSU eliminated
Game 8: No. 5 Liberty 6, No. 1 LA Tech 2
Game 9: No. 3 WKU 8, No. 6 FIU 5 – FIU eliminated
Game 10: No. 1 LA Tech 5, No. 4 Sam Houston 3 – Sam Houston eliminated

Saturday, May 25
Game 11: No. 2 DBU 7, No. 3 WKU 5 – WKU eliminated
Game 12: No. 1 LA Tech 8, No. 5 Liberty 7
Game 13: not necessary
Game 14: No. 5 Liberty vs No. 1 LA Tech 6, No. 5 Liberty 5 (10 innings) – Liberty eliminated

Sunday, May 26
No. 2 DBU vs No. 1 LA Tech; Championship Final, 2 p.m.