Liberty followed a three-game sweep of FIU last weekend with perhaps their greatest week of the season to date. The Flames opened the week with a thrilling win over ACC foe NC State, and then completed a three-game weekend road sweep of defending CUSA champion Western Kentucky. Riding a seven-game win streak as we get deeper into April, the weather continues to get hotter, and so do the Flames.
Tuesday: Liberty 7, NC STATE 5
The Flames got a big win over an ACC foe on Tuesday night, using a late-game comeback to shock the Wolfpack in Raleigh.
Trailing by one and down to their final out, Tanner Marsh delivered an RBI single to tie the game before Jordan Jaffe played the hero with a two-run single to give the Flames the lead in the top of the ninth. Liberty scored five of their seven runs on the night with two outs in the contest.
Eight different Liberty pitchers combined to limit the NC State bats to five hits, with Cooper Harrington closing the game with a scoreless ninth to earn the save. Tyler August picks up the win. The Flames outhit the Wolfpack, 7-5.
Thursday Game 1: LIBERTY 8, WESTERN KENTUCKY 3
Liberty opened up the weekend series in Bowling Green with a strong Game 1 performance, taking down the Hilltoppers 8-3 at Nick Denes Field.
It was a scoreless pitchers’ battle between the Flames and Hilltoppers until the fifth inning, when a Tanner Marsh double brought home Hvidsten and Swofford to give the Flames a 2-0 lead. Liberty would score two more runs before the end of the inning to increase their lead to four. Western Kentucky cut the Liberty lead to one in the seventh inning, before a two-run Nick Barone homer led a string of four insurance runs for Liberty in the eighth and ninth innings. Jake Potts earned the win in relief, tossing 2 2/3 hitless innings. Potts came into the game facing a one-out bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning and forced WKU into a double play to end the inning. Potts has been a clutch arm for the Flames this season and has yet to give up a run in his last four appearances for Liberty.
The Flames outhit the home team 11-8 to take the first game of the series. This marked Liberty’s first-ever win over Western Kentucky as the Flames were 0-6 previously against WKU.
Friday Game 2: LIBERTY 6, WESTERN KENTUCKY 2
Liberty secured the series win with a 6-2 victory over Western Kentucky in what proved to be a great all-around performance for the Flames.
LU jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first two innings and continued to add on throughout the game. Landon Scilley led the offense with three hits and reached base four times, while Tanner Marsh added two hits and two RBI.
Ace Ben Blair delivered another dominant start, allowing just one run over seven innings while striking out eight. The right-hander continued his strong season, improving to 5-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.46.
Liberty totaled 13 hits in Game 2, which proved to be the most of the series. With the win, Liberty secured their third-consecutive CUSA series win, including improving to 2-0 in conference series away from Lynchburg.
Saturday Game 3: LIBERTY 6, WESTERN KENTUCKY 5
Liberty completed their most improbable comeback of the season on Saturday, erasing a five-run deficit in the final inning to complete the series sweep.
Trailing 5-0 entering the final frame, the Flames erupted in the clutch. Jaxon Sorenson drove in the first run with a bases-loaded walk before Nick Barone delivered the biggest swing of the game, blasting a grand slam to even the game at 5-5. With the bases still loaded, Riley DeCandido was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run. DeCandido has reached base in 20 consecutive games to lead Liberty. Cooper Harrington closed the door on any hope of a Hilltopper comeback in the ninth to secure the win, earning his team-leading fifth save of the season.
With the win, the Flames improve to 22-9 overall and 9-3 in CUSA play. Thanks to two consecutive series sweeps and three consecutive series wins in conference play, Liberty has won eight out of their last nine conference games, which has moved them into a tie for second place with Missouri State in Conference USA.
UP NEXT: Liberty (22-9) (9-3) has their biggest week ahead of them thus far in the 2026 season. The Flames will take a short road trip to Blacksburg to open the week on Tuesday against another ACC foe, Virginia Tech (15-15) (6-9). The Hokies have struggled in a strong ACC this season, but this game provides another statement opportunity for Liberty in the midweek. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM, and the game will be televised on ACCNX. Liberty will then turn to Jacksonville State (27-6), (12-0) in a heavyweight CUSA clash between first and second place in Lynchburg. The Gamecocks lost their opening series of the season versus Cincinnati and have not lost one since. Jax State has yet to lose in conference play, sweeping the likes of Sam Houston, Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, and Middle Tennessee. Jax State will look to maintain their grip over CUSA, while Liberty looks to hand them their first conference loss and inch closer to first place in the CUSA standings. First pitch for the series is scheduled for Friday, April 10th at 6:00 PM E.T. You can watch the entire series on ESPN+.
Conference USA Standings
| Team | CUSA | Overall |
|—————–|——|———|
| Jax State | 12-0 | 27-6 |
| Liberty | 9-3 | 22-9 |
| Missouri State | 9-3 | 21-9 |
| Dallas Baptist | 8-4 | 18-14 |
| Kennesaw State | 6-6 | 15-13 |
| LA Tech | 6-6 | 17-16 |
| NM State | 6-6 | 14-16 |
| MTSU | 5-7 | 16-16 |
| WKU | 4-8 | 16-16 |
| Sam Houston | 4-8 | 14-17 |
| FIU | 2-10 | 10-22 |
| Delaware | 1-11 | 10-22 |
Liberty remains tied for second place in Conference USA at 9-3, continuing its strong push near the top of the standings as conference play heats up.
