Sunday, April 13
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
22-14, 5-7
3
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4
Western Kentucky
31-5, 9-3
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3
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5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Kentucky
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
6
2
Liberty
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
3
2
WKU Holds Off Liberty 4-3 Sunday
4/13/2025 5:31:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then fended off a Liberty Flames rally for a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
On a day where pitching dominated, visiting WKU struck for all its runs in the game in the second inning. The Hilltoppers used four of their six hits in the game and a Flames error to take the early advantage.
Afterwards, a trio of Liberty relievers shut down the visitors the rest of the way, allowing WKU only one baserunner, a single in the fifth.
After being held in check by WKU starting pitcher Drew Whalen and reliever Taylor Penn over the first seven innings, Liberty cut its deficit to one in the eighth inning. The first two batters of the inning walked, the first Flame baserunners since shortstop Tanner Marsh reached on an error in the third inning. Two batters later with one out and runners on the corners, first baseman Jaxon Sorenson hit his 11th home run of the season over the right field wall to bring Liberty to within one.
However, reliever Cal Higgins retired the last five batters he faced to close out the game and achieve a sweep of the CUSA three-game series.
Liberty drops to 5-7 in conference play and 22-14 overall. WKU extends its winning streak to four games, moving its CUSA record to 9-3 and 31-5 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: WKU (31-5, 9-3 CUSA); Liberty (22-14, 5-7 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Drew Whalen (7-1) | LP: Jake Potts (1-1) | SV: Cal Higgins (5)
Scoring Summary
2nd – WKU - Howard doubles, Marsala and Hayes score, 2-0
2nd – WKU – Howard scores on a passed ball, 3-0
2nd – WKU – Vasquez singles, Brown scores, 4-0
8th – LIBERTY – Sorenson homers, Marsh and Robertson score, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- The teams combined for nine hits in the contest. The Hilltoppers collected six, while the Flames had three.
- Each team committed two errors in the game.
- Each team only had one hit after the second inning.
- No hitter for either team had more than one hit in the game.
- Flames pitching did not walk a batter in the game.
- Liberty starting pitcher Jake Potts takes the loss. He gave up four runs, two earned, on five hits. He struck out one and did not walk a batter.
- Flames relievers Jack Frankel, Josh McCusker and Tyler August combined to pitch seven scoreless innings. They allowed one hit and struck out three.
- WKU starting pitcher Whalen ups his record to 7-1 on the year. The right-hander pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He struck out six and walked two.
- Penn pitched a scoreless inning for the Hilltoppers, striking out one.
- Higgins records his fifth save of the season. He allowed one run on one hit. He struck out one.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty falls to 17-7 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium this season. It is the first time in 2025 that the Flames have been swept in a three-game series.
- Sorenson leads Liberty and is fourth in CUSA with 11 home runs. The first baseman also leads the Flames and is tied for fifth in the conference with 37 RBI.
- Marsh extended his hitting streak to a team-high 14 consecutive games with a single in the first inning.
- Liberty second baseman Callum Early continued his team-leading reached base streak in the game. He has now reached base safely in 25 consecutive games.
- For the third time this season, the Flames did not walk a batter in a contest.
Up Next
Liberty begins a five-game road swing on Tuesday. The Flames will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to face the Virginia Cavaliers. Game time at Disharoon Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
On a day where pitching dominated, visiting WKU struck for all its runs in the game in the second inning. The Hilltoppers used four of their six hits in the game and a Flames error to take the early advantage.
Afterwards, a trio of Liberty relievers shut down the visitors the rest of the way, allowing WKU only one baserunner, a single in the fifth.
After being held in check by WKU starting pitcher Drew Whalen and reliever Taylor Penn over the first seven innings, Liberty cut its deficit to one in the eighth inning. The first two batters of the inning walked, the first Flame baserunners since shortstop Tanner Marsh reached on an error in the third inning. Two batters later with one out and runners on the corners, first baseman Jaxon Sorenson hit his 11th home run of the season over the right field wall to bring Liberty to within one.
However, reliever Cal Higgins retired the last five batters he faced to close out the game and achieve a sweep of the CUSA three-game series.
Liberty drops to 5-7 in conference play and 22-14 overall. WKU extends its winning streak to four games, moving its CUSA record to 9-3 and 31-5 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: WKU (31-5, 9-3 CUSA); Liberty (22-14, 5-7 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Drew Whalen (7-1) | LP: Jake Potts (1-1) | SV: Cal Higgins (5)
Scoring Summary
2nd – WKU - Howard doubles, Marsala and Hayes score, 2-0
2nd – WKU – Howard scores on a passed ball, 3-0
2nd – WKU – Vasquez singles, Brown scores, 4-0
8th – LIBERTY – Sorenson homers, Marsh and Robertson score, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- The teams combined for nine hits in the contest. The Hilltoppers collected six, while the Flames had three.
- Each team committed two errors in the game.
- Each team only had one hit after the second inning.
- No hitter for either team had more than one hit in the game.
- Flames pitching did not walk a batter in the game.
- Liberty starting pitcher Jake Potts takes the loss. He gave up four runs, two earned, on five hits. He struck out one and did not walk a batter.
- Flames relievers Jack Frankel, Josh McCusker and Tyler August combined to pitch seven scoreless innings. They allowed one hit and struck out three.
- WKU starting pitcher Whalen ups his record to 7-1 on the year. The right-hander pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He struck out six and walked two.
- Penn pitched a scoreless inning for the Hilltoppers, striking out one.
- Higgins records his fifth save of the season. He allowed one run on one hit. He struck out one.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty falls to 17-7 at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium this season. It is the first time in 2025 that the Flames have been swept in a three-game series.
- Sorenson leads Liberty and is fourth in CUSA with 11 home runs. The first baseman also leads the Flames and is tied for fifth in the conference with 37 RBI.
- Marsh extended his hitting streak to a team-high 14 consecutive games with a single in the first inning.
- Liberty second baseman Callum Early continued his team-leading reached base streak in the game. He has now reached base safely in 25 consecutive games.
- For the third time this season, the Flames did not walk a batter in a contest.
Up Next
Liberty begins a five-game road swing on Tuesday. The Flames will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to face the Virginia Cavaliers. Game time at Disharoon Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Drew Whalen (7-1)
L: Potts, Jake (1-1)
S: Cal Higgins (5)
Batting:
2B: Kyle Hayes 1 ; Reid Howard 1
RBI: Carlos Vasquez 1 ; Reid Howard 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kyle Hayes 1 ; Thomas Marsala 1 ; Reid Howard 1 ; Henry Brown 1
SB: Ryan Wideman 1 ; Thomas Marsala 1
CS: Carlos Vasquez 1 ; Ryan Wideman 1
Batting:
HR: Sorenson, Jaxon 1
RBI: Sorenson, Jaxon 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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RHP
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