Wednesday, March 18
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
13-7
12
vs
14
Virginia
18-4
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Virginia
7
2
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
14
9
2
Liberty
0
1
0
3
0
0
3
3
2
12
17
1
Liberty Rallies, But Falls to No. 9 Virginia in Slugfest
3/18/2026 9:30:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – The Liberty Flames brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the home half of the night, only to come up short, falling to the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers 14-12 on Wednesday at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
After falling behind 14-4 after six innings, the Flames whittle the Cavaliers' lead to 14-12 and put runners on the corners with two outs. However, reliever Lucas Hartman was able to retire the next batter to close out the victory.
Liberty had a season-high 17 hits in the contest, highlighted by two home runs by first baseman Riley DeCandido. The first baseman drove in four runs.
Designated hitter Jordan Jaffe, third baseman Jaxon Sorenson and left fielder Nick Barone had three hits apiece for the Flames.
Liberty falls to 13-7 on the season. Virginia moves to 18-4.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Virginia (18-4); Liberty (13-7)
Location: Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
WP: Matt Augustin (1-0) | LP: Ayden Decker-Perry (1-3)
Scoring Summary
1st – UVA – Didawick walked, Becker scored, 1-0
1st – UVA – Murray walked, Tiroly scored, 2-0
1st – UVA – Jackson hit by pitch, S. Harris scores, 3-0
1st – UVA – Weatherspoon doubled, Jackson, Murray and Didawick score, 6-0
1st – UVA – Becker singles, Weatherspoon scores, 7-0
2nd – UVA – Murray flies out, S. Harris scores, 8-0
2nd – UVA – Johnson flies out, Johnson scores, 9-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Swofford reaches on a fielder's choice, Barone scores, 9-1
4th – LIBERTY – DeCandido homers, 9-2
4th – LIBERTY – Marsh triples, Campos and Swofford score, 9-4
5th – UVA – Weatherspoon singles, Johnson scores, 10-4
5th – UVA – Garcia singles, Becker and Weatherspoon, 12-4
6th – UVA – Didawick homers, S. Harris scores, 14-4
7th – LIBERTY – Swofford single, DeCandido scores, 14-5
7th – LIBERTY – Anderson scores on a wild pitch, 14-7
7th – LIBERTY – Drumm singles, Swofford scores, 14-8
8th – LIBERTY – DeCandido homers, Sorenson scores, 14-10
9th – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, Drumm scores, 14-11
9th – LIBERTY – Barone flies out, Jaffe scores, 14-12
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Virginia, 17-9, in the contest. The Cavaliers committed two errors. The Flames made one error.
- Liberty left 13 men on base. Virginia left four men on base.
- DeCandido now leads the Flames with five home runs.
- Flames shortstop Tanner Marsh had two hits, one an RBI triple, walked and drove in two runs.
- Second baseman Easton Swofford collected two hits, had two RBI and scored two runs for the Flames.
- Liberty starter Ayden Decker-Petty takes the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs on one hit. He walked three batters.
- Relievers Cooper Harrington and Tyler August combined to not allow a run over the final three innings for the Flames.
- Despite only pitching one inning, Virginia starter Matt Augustin was awarded the win. He did not allow a hit during the first inning. He struck out one and walked one.
- Catcher Jake Weatherspoon had two hits, one a double, and four RBI for the Cavaliers.
- Virginia left fielder Harrison Didawick collected two hits, including his second home run of the season, had three RBI and three runs scored.
Beyond the Box Score
- Today's contest was the first of two games between Liberty and Virginia this season. The Flames and Cavaliers will meet at Dishroon Stadium in Charlotteville on April 12.
- Liberty's 17 hits are a season high. The Flames' previous high was 14 at UNCG in a 12-10 win last Tuesday.
- DeCandido hits two home runs in a game for the second time this season. Last Tuesday, the first baseman belted two home runs in the Flames' 12-10 victory at UNCG.
- Jaffe has at least one hit in each of his last six games. Designated hitter recorded his third three-hit and fifth multi-hit game of the season.
- Nick Barone posted his third three-hit and sixth multi-hit game of the season, while Sorenson collected his first three-hit game and third of the year.
- With two hits in the game, Marsh now leads the Flames with seven multi-hit games.
- Swofford had his first multi-hit game.
Up Next
Liberty takes to the road for a three-game Conference USA series at Kennesaw State. The series between the Flames and Owls at Mickey Dunn Stadium begins Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
After falling behind 14-4 after six innings, the Flames whittle the Cavaliers' lead to 14-12 and put runners on the corners with two outs. However, reliever Lucas Hartman was able to retire the next batter to close out the victory.
Liberty had a season-high 17 hits in the contest, highlighted by two home runs by first baseman Riley DeCandido. The first baseman drove in four runs.
Designated hitter Jordan Jaffe, third baseman Jaxon Sorenson and left fielder Nick Barone had three hits apiece for the Flames.
Liberty falls to 13-7 on the season. Virginia moves to 18-4.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Virginia (18-4); Liberty (13-7)
Location: Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
WP: Matt Augustin (1-0) | LP: Ayden Decker-Perry (1-3)
Scoring Summary
1st – UVA – Didawick walked, Becker scored, 1-0
1st – UVA – Murray walked, Tiroly scored, 2-0
1st – UVA – Jackson hit by pitch, S. Harris scores, 3-0
1st – UVA – Weatherspoon doubled, Jackson, Murray and Didawick score, 6-0
1st – UVA – Becker singles, Weatherspoon scores, 7-0
2nd – UVA – Murray flies out, S. Harris scores, 8-0
2nd – UVA – Johnson flies out, Johnson scores, 9-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Swofford reaches on a fielder's choice, Barone scores, 9-1
4th – LIBERTY – DeCandido homers, 9-2
4th – LIBERTY – Marsh triples, Campos and Swofford score, 9-4
5th – UVA – Weatherspoon singles, Johnson scores, 10-4
5th – UVA – Garcia singles, Becker and Weatherspoon, 12-4
6th – UVA – Didawick homers, S. Harris scores, 14-4
7th – LIBERTY – Swofford single, DeCandido scores, 14-5
7th – LIBERTY – Anderson scores on a wild pitch, 14-7
7th – LIBERTY – Drumm singles, Swofford scores, 14-8
8th – LIBERTY – DeCandido homers, Sorenson scores, 14-10
9th – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, Drumm scores, 14-11
9th – LIBERTY – Barone flies out, Jaffe scores, 14-12
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Virginia, 17-9, in the contest. The Cavaliers committed two errors. The Flames made one error.
- Liberty left 13 men on base. Virginia left four men on base.
- DeCandido now leads the Flames with five home runs.
- Flames shortstop Tanner Marsh had two hits, one an RBI triple, walked and drove in two runs.
- Second baseman Easton Swofford collected two hits, had two RBI and scored two runs for the Flames.
- Liberty starter Ayden Decker-Petty takes the loss. The right-hander gave up five runs on one hit. He walked three batters.
- Relievers Cooper Harrington and Tyler August combined to not allow a run over the final three innings for the Flames.
- Despite only pitching one inning, Virginia starter Matt Augustin was awarded the win. He did not allow a hit during the first inning. He struck out one and walked one.
- Catcher Jake Weatherspoon had two hits, one a double, and four RBI for the Cavaliers.
- Virginia left fielder Harrison Didawick collected two hits, including his second home run of the season, had three RBI and three runs scored.
Beyond the Box Score
- Today's contest was the first of two games between Liberty and Virginia this season. The Flames and Cavaliers will meet at Dishroon Stadium in Charlotteville on April 12.
- Liberty's 17 hits are a season high. The Flames' previous high was 14 at UNCG in a 12-10 win last Tuesday.
- DeCandido hits two home runs in a game for the second time this season. Last Tuesday, the first baseman belted two home runs in the Flames' 12-10 victory at UNCG.
- Jaffe has at least one hit in each of his last six games. Designated hitter recorded his third three-hit and fifth multi-hit game of the season.
- Nick Barone posted his third three-hit and sixth multi-hit game of the season, while Sorenson collected his first three-hit game and third of the year.
- With two hits in the game, Marsh now leads the Flames with seven multi-hit games.
- Swofford had his first multi-hit game.
Up Next
Liberty takes to the road for a three-game Conference USA series at Kennesaw State. The series between the Flames and Owls at Mickey Dunn Stadium begins Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Augustin (1-0)
L: Decker-Petty, Aydan (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Becker 1 ; Didawick 1 ; Weatherspoon 1
HR: Didawick 1
RBI: Becker 1 ; Gracia 2 ; Didawick 3 ; Murray 2 ; Johnson 1 ; Jackson 1 ; Weatherspoon 4
SF: Murray 1 ; Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Becker 2 ; Tiroly 1 ; S Harris 3 ; Didawick 3 ; Murray 1 ; Johnson 1 ; Jackson 1 ; Weatherspoon 2
HBP: Becker 1 ; S Harris 1 ; Jackson 1
Batting:
3B: Marsh, Tanner 1
HR: DeCandido, Riley 2
RBI: Marsh, Tanner 2 ; Drumm, Ryan 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Barone, Nick 1 ; DeCandido, Riley 4 ; Swofford, Easton 2
SF: Barone, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Drumm, Ryan 1 ; Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Barone, Nick 2 ; DeCandido, Riley 3 ; Fulk, Anderson 1 ; Swofford, Easton 2 ; Campos, Josh 1
SB: Marsh, Tanner 1
HBP: DeCandido, Riley 1 ; Hvidsten, Kyle 1 ; Swofford, Easton 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
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