UNCW Tops Liberty 6-3

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNCW Seahawks jumped out to an early advantage and then held off the Liberty Flames for a 6-3 victory, Friday at Brooks Field.

Behind right-hander Zane Taylor, the host Seahawks built a 6-0 lead through the first four innings. Taylor held the Flames to one hit through the first five innings and retired 14 consecutive batters at one point.

Liberty broke through against Taylor in the sixth inning. The Flames opened the inning with four consecutive singles to plate two runs and later scored another to cut the Seahawks' advantage to 6-3.

However, Liberty could not move any closer as UNCW was able to close out the win.

Shortstop Tanner Marsh led the Flames with two hits and an RBI.

Liberty loses for the first time on the road this season. The Flames drop to 6-3 on the year. UNCW ups its record to 6-4.

Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (6-3); UNCW (6-4)
Location: Wilmington, N.C. (Brooks Field)
WP: Zane Taylor (3-0) | LP: Dylan Mathiesen (1-1) | SV: Trace Baker (1)

Scoring Summary
1^st – UNCW – Lucas singles, Gillespie scores, 1-0
1^st – UNCW – Thorton doubles, Thach scores, 2-0
1^st – UNCW – Galaska flies out, Lucas scores, 3-0
3^rd – UNCW – Thach homers, 4-0
3^rd – UNCW – Lucas homers, 5-0
4^th – UNCW – Thach singles, Gillespie scores, 6-0
6^th – LIBERTY – Robertson singles, Moore scores, 6-1
6^th – LIBERTY – Marsh singles, Swofford scores, 6-2
6^th – LIBERTY – Barone grounds out, Robertson scores, 6-3

Baseball Recap - Game 9 at UNCW

Notable Numbers
- UNCW outhit Liberty, 9-5, in the game. Neither team committed an error.
- Liberty left two men on base. UNCW left seven men on base.
- Flames starting pitcher Dylan Mathiesen takes the loss. He allowed five runs on seven hits over three innings. He struck out five and walked one.
- Liberty reliever Josh McCusker pitched four scoreless innings, retiring 10 Seahawks in a row upon entering the game in the fifth inning. He gave up one hit. The right-hander struck out four and walked a batter.
- Taylor records the win. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
- Reliever Trace Baker retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to record the save for UNCW.
- Seahawks first baseman Tanner Thach, a Preseason All-American, went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
- UNCW third baseman Trevor Lucas also hit a home run in the game.

Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty falls on the road for the first time this season. The Flames had entered the contest 2-0 on the road.
- With two hits, Marsh records his third multi-hit game of the season. He is the only Flame to have reached base in all nine games of 2025.
- McCusker's outing was his longest of the year. In his previous two relief appearances, he had not pitched more than two innings. He has only allowed one baserunner in seven innings.
- Left fielder Nick Barone, who leads CUSA with 16 RBI, drove in another run with a ground this afternoon. He has at least one RBI in eight of nine games.

Up Next
Liberty and UNCW will play the middle game of their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at Brooks Field. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Team Stats

Tanner Marsh

Michael Robertson

Tucker Moore

Easton Swofford

Players Mentioned

Nick Barone

Tanner Marsh

Dylan Mathiesen

Josh McCusker