Friday, March 13
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
12-4, 0-1
3
vs
4
Missouri State
11-6, 1-0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Missouri St.
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
4
11
1
Liberty
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
6
0
Missouri State Edges Liberty 4-3 in CUSA Opener
3/13/2026 8:30:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – Liberty moved the tying run to second base with one out in the ninth inning, but Missouri State pitcher Tyler Charlton was able to prevent the runner from scoring as the Bears defeated the Flames 4-3 in the CUSA opener for both teams Friday at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Field. The loss snaps Liberty's 10-game winning streak.
The visiting Bears took their first lead of the contest in the top of the eighth on a two-run home run by catcher Carter Bergman.
In the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Riley DeCandio walked and was moved into scoring position at second base on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Easton Swofford. Missouri State reliever Tyler Charlton then proceeded to hold the runner at second as he recorded the final two outs of the game to close out the victory.
Shortstop Tanner Marsh led the Flames with two hits, an RBI double and a triple, a walk and a run scored.
Liberty falls to 12-4 overall and 0-1 in CUSA. Missouri State moves to 11-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Missouri State (11-6, 1-0 CUSA); Liberty (12-4, 0-1 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Trent Ashe (1-0) | LP: Josh Swink (1-1) | SV: Tyler Charlton (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Drumm singles, Marsh scores 1-0
2nd – LIBERTY - Campos reached on a fielder's choice, Sorenson scores, 2-0
6th - Mo ST – Golbert homers, 2-1
7th – Mo ST – Cermenelli reached on a fielder's choice, Fyffe scores, 2-2
7th – LIBERTY – Marsh doubles, Campos scores, 3-2
8th – Mo ST – Bergman homers, Golbert scores, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- Missouri State outhit Liberty, 11-6. The Bears committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Missouri State left nine men on base.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
- Reliever Josh Swink takes the loss. The left-hander gave up three runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.
- Tyler Ash, the third of four Missouri State relievers in the game, picks up the win. The reliever pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, not yielding a hit. He struck out two and walked two.
- Charlton earns his second save of the season. He retired three of the four batters he faced, striking out one and walking one.
- Bears right-fielder Taeg Gollert collected three hits, including his third home run of the year. He had an RBI and scored twice.
- Bergman's two-run home run in the eighth inning was the Missouri State catcher's seventh of the season.
Beyond the Box Score
- Today's game was the first meeting between Missouri State and Liberty on the baseball diamond in the programs' histories. In addition, the Bears were playing in their first-ever Conference USA game after joining the conference this fall.
- The loss halts Liberty's winning streak at 10 games. The streak was the longest winning streak by a Flames team since an 11-game winning streak Feb. 19-March 8, 2022. It is also the longest by the Flames under head coach Bradley LeCroy
- Marsh extends his hitting streak to 13 games. It is one shy of the shortstop career-high of 14 games. He also has reached base in every game this season. With two hits, he leads the Flames with six multi-hit games.
Up Next
Liberty and Missouri State will meet in the middle game of their three-game, CUSA opening series tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The visiting Bears took their first lead of the contest in the top of the eighth on a two-run home run by catcher Carter Bergman.
In the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Riley DeCandio walked and was moved into scoring position at second base on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Easton Swofford. Missouri State reliever Tyler Charlton then proceeded to hold the runner at second as he recorded the final two outs of the game to close out the victory.
Shortstop Tanner Marsh led the Flames with two hits, an RBI double and a triple, a walk and a run scored.
Liberty falls to 12-4 overall and 0-1 in CUSA. Missouri State moves to 11-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Missouri State (11-6, 1-0 CUSA); Liberty (12-4, 0-1 CUSA)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Trent Ashe (1-0) | LP: Josh Swink (1-1) | SV: Tyler Charlton (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Drumm singles, Marsh scores 1-0
2nd – LIBERTY - Campos reached on a fielder's choice, Sorenson scores, 2-0
6th - Mo ST – Golbert homers, 2-1
7th – Mo ST – Cermenelli reached on a fielder's choice, Fyffe scores, 2-2
7th – LIBERTY – Marsh doubles, Campos scores, 3-2
8th – Mo ST – Bergman homers, Golbert scores, 4-3
Notable Numbers
- Missouri State outhit Liberty, 11-6. The Bears committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Missouri State left nine men on base.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair did not factor in the decision. The right-hander allowed one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
- Reliever Josh Swink takes the loss. The left-hander gave up three runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.
- Tyler Ash, the third of four Missouri State relievers in the game, picks up the win. The reliever pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, not yielding a hit. He struck out two and walked two.
- Charlton earns his second save of the season. He retired three of the four batters he faced, striking out one and walking one.
- Bears right-fielder Taeg Gollert collected three hits, including his third home run of the year. He had an RBI and scored twice.
- Bergman's two-run home run in the eighth inning was the Missouri State catcher's seventh of the season.
Beyond the Box Score
- Today's game was the first meeting between Missouri State and Liberty on the baseball diamond in the programs' histories. In addition, the Bears were playing in their first-ever Conference USA game after joining the conference this fall.
- The loss halts Liberty's winning streak at 10 games. The streak was the longest winning streak by a Flames team since an 11-game winning streak Feb. 19-March 8, 2022. It is also the longest by the Flames under head coach Bradley LeCroy
- Marsh extends his hitting streak to 13 games. It is one shy of the shortstop career-high of 14 games. He also has reached base in every game this season. With two hits, he leads the Flames with six multi-hit games.
Up Next
Liberty and Missouri State will meet in the middle game of their three-game, CUSA opening series tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Trent Ash (1-0)
L: Swink, Josh (1-1)
S: Tyler Charlton (2)
Batting:
2B: Bobby Atkinson 1 ; Logan Fyffe 1
3B: Taeg Gollert 1
HR: Taeg Gollert 1 ; Carter Bergman 1
RBI: Taeg Gollert 1 ; Carter Bergman 2 ; Bryce Cermenelli 1
SH: Gabe Roessler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taeg Gollert 2 ; Carter Bergman 1 ; Logan Fyffe 1
Batting:
2B: Marsh, Tanner 1
3B: Marsh, Tanner 1
RBI: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Drumm, Ryan 1 ; Campos, Josh 1
SH: Swofford, Easton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Campos, Josh 1
HBP: Drumm, Ryan 1 ; DeCandido, Riley 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballCoach LeCroy Gives An Update On The LU Baseball Season
Monday, March 09
Liberty Baseball Facility: Developing Champions
Thursday, February 26
vs. The Citadel
Sunday, February 15
Tanner Marsh Talks About The Start Of Baseball Season
Thursday, February 05