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.
SATURDAY GAME 1: SAM HOUSTON 8, LIBERTY 7
The Bearkats scored five runs in the second inning, four on a grand slam by second baseman Blake Brown, and built a 6-1 lead after five innings. Liberty then rallied to tie the game at 6-6 with a run in the sixth and four in the seventh inning. Nick Barone tied the game with a two run, two out triple in the seventh. However, right fielder Brady Christensen hit his ninth home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Bearkats a 7-6 lead and then tacked on an insurance run in the eighth for an 8-6 advantage. Landon Scilley would homer in the ninth to cut the deficit to one. With one out, the Flames moved the tying run into scoring position at second base, but Bearkat reliever Devin Bennett retired the next two batters to close out the victory.
Tanner Marsh had a game high three hits as well as an RBI and a run scored while Barone had a double, a triple, and two RBI. Scilley had two hits and the home run was his fourth of the season.
Liberty reliever Jack Frankel, the second pitcher for the Flames, takes the loss. He allowed two runs on three hits over three innings while striking out two and walking two.
SATURDAY GAME 2: SAM HOUSTON 7, LIBERTY 1
Sam Houston would never trail in the contest as they grabbed the lead in the second inning, scoring three runs. It would be all that starter Ryan Peterson needed. He scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings in the victory.
Ben Blair takes the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out six and walked two. Reliever Garrett McLaughlin pitched two scoreless innings.
SUNDAY: SAM HOUSTON 2, LIBERTY 1
Sam Houston’s Parker Blackman doubled with two out in the ninth inning for a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Flames on Sunday afternoon to secure the series sweep. After Liberty’s pitching had worked out of several scoring threats throughout the game, Sam Houston loaded the bases with one out and the Flames would go to the bullpen. Reliever Tyler August struck out the first batter he faced for the second out of the inning, only to see Blackman drop a double down the left field l one to plate the winning runs.
Liberty pitchers worked out of scoring threats in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings, stranding 12 Bearkats. Nick Barone scored Liberty’s lone run in the contest on a double play in the fourth inning. Easton Swofford had three hits for the Flames in the loss.
Liberty starter Dylan Mathiesen pitched four scoreless innings. He struck out one and walked two. Josh Swink followed Mathiesen and pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. He scattered four hits, striking out one and walking one. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth. Joseph Webb takes the loss. He gave up two runs on three hits despite getting out of two scoring threats int he seventh and eighth innings.
Up Next: This coming week, the Flames return home to take on Virginia Tech on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Liberty then heads to Miami to face FIU for a three-game series which begins Friday night at 6:30.
Current CUSA Standings (entering the weekend)
Dallas Baptist……..16-5, 33-13
Western Kentucky…14-7, 38-10
Kennesaw State……12-6, 22-22
NMSU…………………..10-8, 22-23
Louisiana Tech…….11-9, 27-20
Jax State……………..11-10, 28-20
FIU………………………9-11, 26-22
Liberty…………………7-14, 26-22
Middle Tenn………….5-16, 20-27
Sam Houston……….6-15, 12-36
