Liberty Picked 2nd in CUSA Preseason Baseball Poll;3 Flames Named to Preseason All-Conference Team
2/1/2024 2:02:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – 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. Infielders Cam Foster and Aidan Sweatt and pitcher Garrett Horn were voted to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team, as the conference released its preseason poll and team this afternoon. The CUSA head coaches select the poll and team.
Liberty received 64 points to edge Louisiana Tech (60 points) for second place in the poll. Dallas Baptist garnered all nine first-place votes as the unanimous choice to finish the year as the conference's champion.
Foster started all 58 games for Liberty in 2023, playing 43 games at third base and 15 games at shortstop. The junior hit .272 with 44 RBI and 40 runs scored. He had 12 doubles and belted 12 home runs, posting a slugging percentage of .512. The Douglasville, Ga., native led Liberty in home runs and RBI, both career highs.
Sweatt transfers to Liberty for the 2024 season 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. The Fernandina Beach. Fla., native finished the year 10th in stolen bases and 11th in hits (70) in the ASUN Conference in 2023.
Horn made 15 starts in 2023, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.09 ERA over 66 innings. The two-time ASUN All-Conference second team pitcher struck out 87 and walked 47 while holding opponents to a .214 batting average. The Kernersville, N.C., left-hander finished among the ASUN Top 10 in ERA (6th), strikeouts (7th) and opponent batting average (3rd).
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, La. The tournament features a double-elimination bracket with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid to an NCAA Regional.
2024 CUSA Preseason Baseball Poll
CUSA Baseball Preseason Player of the Year
Grant Jay, DBU, C
CUSA Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ryan Johnson, DBU, RHP
CUSA Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team
Liberty received 64 points to edge Louisiana Tech (60 points) for second place in the poll. Dallas Baptist garnered all nine first-place votes as the unanimous choice to finish the year as the conference's champion.
Foster started all 58 games for Liberty in 2023, playing 43 games at third base and 15 games at shortstop. The junior hit .272 with 44 RBI and 40 runs scored. He had 12 doubles and belted 12 home runs, posting a slugging percentage of .512. The Douglasville, Ga., native led Liberty in home runs and RBI, both career highs.
Sweatt transfers to Liberty for the 2024 season 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. The Fernandina Beach. Fla., native finished the year 10th in stolen bases and 11th in hits (70) in the ASUN Conference in 2023.
Horn made 15 starts in 2023, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.09 ERA over 66 innings. The two-time ASUN All-Conference second team pitcher struck out 87 and walked 47 while holding opponents to a .214 batting average. The Kernersville, N.C., left-hander finished among the ASUN Top 10 in ERA (6th), strikeouts (7th) and opponent batting average (3rd).
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, La. The tournament features a double-elimination bracket with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid to an NCAA Regional.
2024 CUSA Preseason Baseball Poll
| Rank | School (first-place votes) | Total |
| 1. | DBU (9) | 81 |
| 2. | Liberty | 64 |
| 3. | Louisiana Tech | 60 |
| 4. | Sam Houston | 57 |
| 5. | WKU | 48 |
| 6. | MTSU | 29 |
| 7. | Jax State | 26 |
| 8. | FIU | 25 |
| 9. | NM State | 15 |
Grant Jay, DBU, C
CUSA Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ryan Johnson, DBU, RHP
CUSA Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team
| Name | Yr. | Pos. |
| Grant Jay, DBU | So. | C |
| Miguel Santos, DBU | Sr. | INF |
| Derrick Jackson, Jr., Jax State | Sr. | INF |
| Cam Foster, Liberty | Jr. | INF |
| Aiden Sweatt, Liberty | Sr. | INF |
| Easton Lloyd, Sam Houston | Sr. | INF |
| Nathan Humphreys, DBU | Jr. | OF |
| Keith Jones, NM State | Sr. | OF |
| Jake Tatom, Sam Houston | So. | OF |
| Ethan Mann, DBU | R-Sr. | DH |
| Ethan Bates, LA Tech | Sr. | UTIL |
| Ryan Johnson, DBU, RHP | Jr. | SP |
| Garrett Horn, Liberty, LHP | Jr. | SP |
| Coltin Atkinson, Sam Houston, RHP | Sr. | SP |
| Lane Diuguid, WKU, LHP | Sr. | SP |
| Dawson Hall, WKU, RHP | So. | SP |
| Chandler David, Sam Houston, RHP | Sr. | RP |
| Mason Burns, WKU, RHP | Sr. | RP |
Players Mentioned
Monday, June 01
Sunday, May 31
Sunday, May 31
Friday, May 29