Thursday, April 17
Ruston, La.
7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT
Liberty University
23-15, 5-8
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7
Louisiana Tech
34-14, 9-3
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9
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LIBERTY
0
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Louisiana Tech
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11
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LA Tech Rallies for 7-6 Win Over Liberty
4/18/2025 12:19:00 AM | Baseball
RUSTON, LA. – The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs plated three two-out runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Liberty Flames in the CUSA series opener between the two teams at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park Thursday evening.
Trailing 6-4 and down to his last strike, Bulldog first baseman Trey Halsey lined a two-out double down the right field corner, scoring two runs to tie the game at 6-6. Catcher Eli Burch followed by working a 3-2 count before singling for the walk-off victory.
The rally foiled a comeback attempt by Liberty. Held scoreless and to one hit through the first six innings, the Flames scored six unanswered runs, four in the seventh and two in the eighth inning, to take a 6-4 advantage.
Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh had two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the game. Flames first baseman Jaxson Sorenson tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh with a two-out bases-clearing double.
Liberty drops its fourth consecutive CUSA game, falling to 5-8 in conference play and 23-15 overall. LA Tech moves to 9-3 in CUSA and 24-14 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (23-15, 5-8 CUSA); Louisiana Tech (24-14, 9-3 CUSA)
Location: Ruston, La. (J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park)
WP: Ryan Harland (1-0) | LP: Tyler August (0-2)
Scoring Summary
4th – LA TECH – Ruddell homers, 1-0
4th – LA TECH – Safford triples, Berch and Hawsey score, 3-0
6th – LA TECH – Ballard flies out, Berch scores, 4-0
7th – LIBERTY – Marsh singles, Scilly scores, 4-1
7th – LIBERTY – Sorenson doubles, Marsh, Moore and Simmons score, 4-4
8th – LIBERTY – Troyer scores on a wild pitch, 5-4
8th – LIBERTY – Early flies out, Scilley scores, 6-4
Notable Numbers
- Louisiana Tech out-hit Liberty, 11-4, in the contest. The Bulldogs committed four errors, while the Flames made one.
- Liberty left nine men on base. LA Tech left 10 men on base.
- The Flames walked eight times in the game. Four of those runners came around to score.
- Tyler August, the fourth Liberty pitcher of the contest, takes the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on three hits over 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one.
- Louisiana Tech reliever Ryan Harland records his first win of 2025. The sixth Bulldog to pitch in the game, he pitched a scoreless ninth.
- Bulldogs starting pitcher Luke Cooley pitched six scoreless innings. He allowed one hit. He struck out seven and walked three.
- Left fielder Zeb Ruddell had two hits, including his fifth home run of the season, in the contest.
Beyond the Box Score
- Sorenson leads the Flames and is fifth in CUSA with 40 RBI. The Liberty first baseman has reached base in 21 consecutive games.
- Marsh reached base three times with a two-hit game and a walk. The shortstop leads the Flames with 13 multi-hit games and extends his reach base safely in 21 consecutive games.
- Liberty reliever Josh McCusker has not allowed a run in each of his last four appearances. Tonight, he pitched two scoreless innings. He has not allowed a run over his last 8 1/3 innings.
Up Next
Liberty and Louisiana Tech will meet in the middle game of their three-game Conference USA series tomorrow at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Trailing 6-4 and down to his last strike, Bulldog first baseman Trey Halsey lined a two-out double down the right field corner, scoring two runs to tie the game at 6-6. Catcher Eli Burch followed by working a 3-2 count before singling for the walk-off victory.
The rally foiled a comeback attempt by Liberty. Held scoreless and to one hit through the first six innings, the Flames scored six unanswered runs, four in the seventh and two in the eighth inning, to take a 6-4 advantage.
Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh had two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the game. Flames first baseman Jaxson Sorenson tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh with a two-out bases-clearing double.
Liberty drops its fourth consecutive CUSA game, falling to 5-8 in conference play and 23-15 overall. LA Tech moves to 9-3 in CUSA and 24-14 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (23-15, 5-8 CUSA); Louisiana Tech (24-14, 9-3 CUSA)
Location: Ruston, La. (J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park)
WP: Ryan Harland (1-0) | LP: Tyler August (0-2)
Scoring Summary
4th – LA TECH – Ruddell homers, 1-0
4th – LA TECH – Safford triples, Berch and Hawsey score, 3-0
6th – LA TECH – Ballard flies out, Berch scores, 4-0
7th – LIBERTY – Marsh singles, Scilly scores, 4-1
7th – LIBERTY – Sorenson doubles, Marsh, Moore and Simmons score, 4-4
8th – LIBERTY – Troyer scores on a wild pitch, 5-4
8th – LIBERTY – Early flies out, Scilley scores, 6-4
Notable Numbers
- Louisiana Tech out-hit Liberty, 11-4, in the contest. The Bulldogs committed four errors, while the Flames made one.
- Liberty left nine men on base. LA Tech left 10 men on base.
- The Flames walked eight times in the game. Four of those runners came around to score.
- Tyler August, the fourth Liberty pitcher of the contest, takes the loss. The right-hander gave up three runs on three hits over 2/3 of an inning. He struck out one.
- Louisiana Tech reliever Ryan Harland records his first win of 2025. The sixth Bulldog to pitch in the game, he pitched a scoreless ninth.
- Bulldogs starting pitcher Luke Cooley pitched six scoreless innings. He allowed one hit. He struck out seven and walked three.
- Left fielder Zeb Ruddell had two hits, including his fifth home run of the season, in the contest.
Beyond the Box Score
- Sorenson leads the Flames and is fifth in CUSA with 40 RBI. The Liberty first baseman has reached base in 21 consecutive games.
- Marsh reached base three times with a two-hit game and a walk. The shortstop leads the Flames with 13 multi-hit games and extends his reach base safely in 21 consecutive games.
- Liberty reliever Josh McCusker has not allowed a run in each of his last four appearances. Tonight, he pitched two scoreless innings. He has not allowed a run over his last 8 1/3 innings.
Up Next
Liberty and Louisiana Tech will meet in the middle game of their three-game Conference USA series tomorrow at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
T7: ?????????? ???????????????? splits the gap to clear the bases with 2 outs! We are all tied at 4! pic.twitter.com/W3aXfLz2GK
— Liberty Baseball (@LibertyBaseball) April 18, 2025
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harland,R (1-0)
L: August, Tyler (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Sorenson, Jaxon 1
RBI: Early, Callum 1 ; Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 3
SH: Swofford, Easton 1
SF: Early, Callum 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Troyer, Camden 1 ; Scilley, Landon 2 ; Simmons, John 1 ; Moore, Tucker 1
SB: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Moore, Tucker 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
HBP: Moore, Tucker 1
Batting:
2B: Hawsey,T 1
3B: Safford,W 1
HR: Ruddell,Z 1
RBI: Ballard,M 1 ; Ruddell,Z 1 ; Hawsey,T 2 ; Berch,E 1 ; Safford,W 2
SF: Ballard,M 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ballard,M 1 ; Berkley,G 1 ; Ruddell,Z 1 ; Hawsey,T 1 ; Smith,J 1 ; Berch,E 2
HBP: Berkley,G 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
Flames in the Pros: Garrett Horn
Thursday, July 17
Inside the Park: Conference USA Championship
Thursday, May 29
Coach LeCroy & Camden Troyer Talk About Preparing For The CUSA Baseball Tournament
Monday, May 19
Ben Blair: The Hometown Ace
Wednesday, May 07