Saturday, April 19
Ruston, La.
2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT
Liberty University
25-16, 6-9
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4
Louisiana Tech
25-15, 10-4
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4
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7
8
9
R
H
E
LIBERTY
0
1
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3
8
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Louisiana Tech
2
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2
0
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4
9
1
Louisiana Tech Survives Ninth-Inning Liberty Rally for 4-3 Win
4/19/2025 5:41:00 PM | Baseball
RUSTON, LA. – Liberty had the tying run thrown out at home, and Louisiana Tech worked out of a bases-loaded jam, as the host Bulldogs outlasted the Flames 4-3 Saturday afternoon at J.C. Lover Field at Pat Patterson Stadium.
Having been held scoreless by relievers Luke Nichols and Blake Hooks since the fifth inning, Liberty's Landon Scilley walked and stole second to open the ninth against Hooks. Shortstop Tanner Marsh followed with a double that Scilly tried to score on, only to be thrown out at home by LA Tech center fielder Garrison Berkley for the first out of the inning.
The next two Flames walked to load the bases with one out for right fielder Camden Troyer. The outfielder ripped a line drive back up the middle, which was snagged by Bulldog shortstop Will Safford, who then beat the runner on second to the bag for a double play to end the game.
Liberty second baseman Easton Swofford reached base three times in the game. He had two hits, one a double, and drew a walk. Third baseman Landon Scilley also had two hits, including a double, and walked for the Flames.
Troyer hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo home run, in the fourth inning.
Liberty drops to 6-9 in CUSA and 24-16 overall. Louisiana Tech moves to 10-4 in conference and 25-15 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (24-15, 6-8 CUSA); Louisiana Tech (24-15, 9-4 CUSA)
Location: Ruston, La. (J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park)
WP: Luke Nichols (4-4) | LP: Ben Blair (4-2) | SV: Blake Hooks (7)
Scoring Summary
1st – LA TECH – Hawsey homers, Coates scores, 2-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Moore singles, Gibson scores, 2-1
4th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, 2-2
4th – LA TECH – Patterson singles, Berkley scores, 3-2
4th – LA TECH – Houston singles, Patterson scores, 4-2
5th – LIBERTY – Robertson scores on a wild pitch, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- The Bulldogs held a 9-8 edge in hits over the Flames in the contest. LA Tech committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left 11 men on base. Louisiana Tech left eight.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair was the hard-luck loser. He takes the loss to drop his record to 4-2 on the year. He gave up a season-high four runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
- LA Tech reliever Nichols records the win. He held the Flames scoreless over three innings, allowing one hit. He struck out three and walked two.
- Hooks, the CUSA leader in saves, picks up his seventh save of the season. He pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out one and walked four batters.
- LA Tech first baseman Trey Hawsey had two hits. He hit his fifth home run in the game, a two-run shot, in the first inning.
Beyond the Box Score
- Louisiana Tech takes the CUSA series, two games to one. Liberty is now 5-4 in one-run games this season.
- Liberty drops to 2-2 on its five-game road swing.
- Swofford, making his 14th start of the year, records his second multi-hit game.
- Flames first baseman Jaxon Sorenson singled in the first inning to run his reach base safely streak to 23 games.
- Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh doubled and walked in the game to extend his reach base streak to 23 consecutive games.
Up Next
Liberty finishes its road trip with its yearly visit to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a midweek contest against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday. Game time at David F. Couch Ballpark is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Having been held scoreless by relievers Luke Nichols and Blake Hooks since the fifth inning, Liberty's Landon Scilley walked and stole second to open the ninth against Hooks. Shortstop Tanner Marsh followed with a double that Scilly tried to score on, only to be thrown out at home by LA Tech center fielder Garrison Berkley for the first out of the inning.
The next two Flames walked to load the bases with one out for right fielder Camden Troyer. The outfielder ripped a line drive back up the middle, which was snagged by Bulldog shortstop Will Safford, who then beat the runner on second to the bag for a double play to end the game.
Liberty second baseman Easton Swofford reached base three times in the game. He had two hits, one a double, and drew a walk. Third baseman Landon Scilley also had two hits, including a double, and walked for the Flames.
Troyer hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo home run, in the fourth inning.
Liberty drops to 6-9 in CUSA and 24-16 overall. Louisiana Tech moves to 10-4 in conference and 25-15 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (24-15, 6-8 CUSA); Louisiana Tech (24-15, 9-4 CUSA)
Location: Ruston, La. (J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park)
WP: Luke Nichols (4-4) | LP: Ben Blair (4-2) | SV: Blake Hooks (7)
Scoring Summary
1st – LA TECH – Hawsey homers, Coates scores, 2-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Moore singles, Gibson scores, 2-1
4th – LIBERTY – Troyer homers, 2-2
4th – LA TECH – Patterson singles, Berkley scores, 3-2
4th – LA TECH – Houston singles, Patterson scores, 4-2
5th – LIBERTY – Robertson scores on a wild pitch, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- The Bulldogs held a 9-8 edge in hits over the Flames in the contest. LA Tech committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left 11 men on base. Louisiana Tech left eight.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair was the hard-luck loser. He takes the loss to drop his record to 4-2 on the year. He gave up a season-high four runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
- LA Tech reliever Nichols records the win. He held the Flames scoreless over three innings, allowing one hit. He struck out three and walked two.
- Hooks, the CUSA leader in saves, picks up his seventh save of the season. He pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out one and walked four batters.
- LA Tech first baseman Trey Hawsey had two hits. He hit his fifth home run in the game, a two-run shot, in the first inning.
Beyond the Box Score
- Louisiana Tech takes the CUSA series, two games to one. Liberty is now 5-4 in one-run games this season.
- Liberty drops to 2-2 on its five-game road swing.
- Swofford, making his 14th start of the year, records his second multi-hit game.
- Flames first baseman Jaxon Sorenson singled in the first inning to run his reach base safely streak to 23 games.
- Liberty shortstop Tanner Marsh doubled and walked in the game to extend his reach base streak to 23 consecutive games.
Up Next
Liberty finishes its road trip with its yearly visit to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a midweek contest against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday. Game time at David F. Couch Ballpark is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Luke Nichols (4-4)
L: Blair, Ben (4-2)
S: Blake Hooks (7)
Batting:
2B: Scilley, Landon 1 ; Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Swofford, Easton 1
HR: Troyer, Camden 1
RBI: Troyer, Camden 1 ; Moore, Tucker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Troyer, Camden 1 ; Gibson, Michael 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
SB: Scilley, Landon 1 ; Robertson, Michael 1
Batting:
HR: Trey Hawsey 1
RBI: Trey Hawsey 2 ; Cade Patterson 1 ; Matt Houston 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Colton Coates 1 ; Trey Hawsey 1 ; Garrison Berkley 1 ; Cade Patterson 1
SB: Garrison Berkley 1 ; Cade Patterson 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
3b/cf
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
2b/3b
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballRHP/INF
/ BaseballINF
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