Friday, April 11
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
22-12, 5-5
2
vs
6
Western Kentucky
29-5, 7-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Kentucky
0
3
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
6
14
1
Liberty
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
8
2
WKU Slips Past Liberty 6-2 Friday
4/11/2025 11:11:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeated the Liberty Flames 6-2 in their CUSA series opener Friday evening at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
WKU pitchers Jack Bennett and Lucas Hartman combined to hold the Liberty to two runs on eight hits and strand 12 Liberty baserunners in the game.
The Hilltoppers struck for three runs in the second inning to take the lead and then thwarted several Liberty scoring threats en route to the victory. WKU pitchers worked out of danger in the second inning, a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, and a threat in the seventh inning.
Third baseman Landon Scilley had two hits and an RBI for the Flames. Shortstop Tanner Marsh also had two hits for Liberty.
The Flames see their three-game winning streak come to an end. Liberty drops to 5-5 in CUSA and 22-12 overall. WKU moves to 7-3 in conference and 29-5 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: WKU (29-5, 7-3 CUSA); Liberty (22-12, 5-5 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Jack Bennett (6-0) | LP: Dylan Mathiesen (2-2) | SV: Lucas Hartman (2)
Scoring Summary
2nd – WKU – Howard singles, Hayes scores, 1-0
2nd – WKU – Haller singles, Barragan scores, 2-0
2nd – WKU – Haller advances on a throwing error, Howard scores on a stolen base, 3-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Scilley singles, Troyer scores, 3-1
7th – WKU – Ross singles, Wideman scores, 4-1
7th – WKU – Hayes steals second, Ross scores on a stolen base, 5-1
7th – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, Early scores, 5-2
8th – WKU – Wideman doubles, Vasquez scores, 6-2
Notable Numbers
- WKU held a 14-8 advantage over Liberty in hits. The Flames committed two errors. The Hilltoppers made one.
- Liberty left 12 men on base. WKU left 11.
- There was only one extra base hit in the game by either team.
- Flames starting pitcher Dylan Mathiesen takes the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.
- Bennett runs his record to 6-0 on the year. He gave up one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
- Hartman pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to pick up his second save of the season. He allowed one run on four hits. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.
- WKU second baseman Austin Haller went 4-for-4 with an RBI.
- Hilltoppers left fielder Carlos Vasquez had three hits and scored a run.
- Conference USA batting average leader Ryan Wideman had two hits, including the only extra base hit, a double for the Hilltoppers. The center fielder had an RBI and scored a run.
Beyond the Box Score
- Western Kentucky is making its first visit to Lynchburg this weekend. The Flames and Hilltoppers met for the first time last season in Bowling Green, Ky.
- Liberty falls for the first time on its current six-game homestand. The Flames are now 17-5 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium this season.
- Marsh extends his team-high hitting streak to 12 straight games. The shortstop also recorded his 12th multi-hit game of the year.
- Second baseman Callum Early had a hit in the contest. He has reached base safely in a team-high 23 consecutive games. Early also has a seven-game hitting streak.
Up Next
Liberty and WKU will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of their series. Game time at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
WKU pitchers Jack Bennett and Lucas Hartman combined to hold the Liberty to two runs on eight hits and strand 12 Liberty baserunners in the game.
The Hilltoppers struck for three runs in the second inning to take the lead and then thwarted several Liberty scoring threats en route to the victory. WKU pitchers worked out of danger in the second inning, a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, and a threat in the seventh inning.
Third baseman Landon Scilley had two hits and an RBI for the Flames. Shortstop Tanner Marsh also had two hits for Liberty.
The Flames see their three-game winning streak come to an end. Liberty drops to 5-5 in CUSA and 22-12 overall. WKU moves to 7-3 in conference and 29-5 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: WKU (29-5, 7-3 CUSA); Liberty (22-12, 5-5 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Jack Bennett (6-0) | LP: Dylan Mathiesen (2-2) | SV: Lucas Hartman (2)
Scoring Summary
2nd – WKU – Howard singles, Hayes scores, 1-0
2nd – WKU – Haller singles, Barragan scores, 2-0
2nd – WKU – Haller advances on a throwing error, Howard scores on a stolen base, 3-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Scilley singles, Troyer scores, 3-1
7th – WKU – Ross singles, Wideman scores, 4-1
7th – WKU – Hayes steals second, Ross scores on a stolen base, 5-1
7th – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, Early scores, 5-2
8th – WKU – Wideman doubles, Vasquez scores, 6-2
Notable Numbers
- WKU held a 14-8 advantage over Liberty in hits. The Flames committed two errors. The Hilltoppers made one.
- Liberty left 12 men on base. WKU left 11.
- There was only one extra base hit in the game by either team.
- Flames starting pitcher Dylan Mathiesen takes the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.
- Bennett runs his record to 6-0 on the year. He gave up one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
- Hartman pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to pick up his second save of the season. He allowed one run on four hits. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.
- WKU second baseman Austin Haller went 4-for-4 with an RBI.
- Hilltoppers left fielder Carlos Vasquez had three hits and scored a run.
- Conference USA batting average leader Ryan Wideman had two hits, including the only extra base hit, a double for the Hilltoppers. The center fielder had an RBI and scored a run.
Beyond the Box Score
- Western Kentucky is making its first visit to Lynchburg this weekend. The Flames and Hilltoppers met for the first time last season in Bowling Green, Ky.
- Liberty falls for the first time on its current six-game homestand. The Flames are now 17-5 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium this season.
- Marsh extends his team-high hitting streak to 12 straight games. The shortstop also recorded his 12th multi-hit game of the year.
- Second baseman Callum Early had a hit in the contest. He has reached base safely in a team-high 23 consecutive games. Early also has a seven-game hitting streak.
Up Next
Liberty and WKU will meet again tomorrow in the middle game of their series. Game time at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jack Bennett (6-0)
L: Mathiesen, Dylan (2-2)
S: Lucas Hartman (2)
Batting:
2B: Ryan Wideman 1
RBI: Ryan Wideman 1 ; Camden Ross 1 ; Reid Howard 1 ; Austin Haller 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carlos Vasquez 1 ; Ryan Wideman 1 ; Camden Ross 1 ; Kyle Hayes 1 ; Drew Barragan 1 ; Reid Howard 1
SB: Joe Siervo 1 ; Camden Ross 1 ; Kyle Hayes 1 ; Reid Howard 1
HBP: Ethan Lizama 1 ; Thomas Marsala 1 ; Henry Brown 1
Batting:
RBI: Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Scilley, Landon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Early, Callum 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1
SB: Marsh, Tanner 1
HBP: Sorenson, Jaxon 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballRHP/INF
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