Saturday, April 4
Bowling Green, Ky.
1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM CT
Liberty University
22-9, 9-3
6
at
5
Western Kentucky
16-16, 4-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| WKU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
Liberty Rallies for 6 Runs in 9th for 6-5 Win to Sweep Series From WKU
4/4/2026 4:36:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, KY. – Trailing 5-0 in the top of the ninth, Liberty sent 12 men to the plate, erupting for six runs to take the lead and went on to close out the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers for a 6-5 come-from-behind victory on Saturday at Nick Denes Field. With the victory, the Flames sweep the three-game conference series.
The first three Flames reached to load the bases with no one out in the top of the ninth inning. First baseman Jaxon Sorenson walked to force in Liberty's first run of the contest to make it 5-1 WKU. Two batters, left fielder Nick Barone, followed by launching a 2-1 pitch over the left center field wall for a grand slam to tie the game at 5-5.
Later in the inning, the Flames again loaded the bases, this time with two outs. After shortstop Tanner Marsh was intentionally walked to load the bases, right fielder Riley DeCandido was hit by a pitch, bringing in the go-ahead run home and giving Liberty a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Cooper Harrington pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the Liberty victory.
Liberty extends its winning streak to seven games. The Flames move to 9-3 in CUSA and 22-9 overall. Western Kentucky drops to 4-8 in CUSA and 16-16 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (22-9, 9-3 CUSA); WKU (16-16, 4-8 CUSA)
Location: Nick Denes Field
WP: Aidan Decker-Petty (2-4) | LP: Nathan Lawson (2-2) | SV: Cooper Harrington (5)
Scoring Summary
6th – WKU - Ross homers, Haller scores, 2-0
7th – WKU – Frost singles, Hayes scores, 3-0
8th – WKU – Haller singles, Robbins scores, 4-0
8th – WKU – Haller scores on a wild pitch, 5-0
9th – LIBERTY – Sorenson walks, Marsh scores, 5-1
9th – LIBERTY – Barone homers, Sorenson, Jaffe, and DeCandio score, 5-5
9th – LIBERTY – DeCandido hit by pitch, Scilley scores, 6-5
Notable Numbers
- WKU outhit Liberty, 9-7, in the contest. The Hilltoppers committed two errors.
- The Flames left six men on base. The Hilltoppers left five.
- Barone's grand slam was his fourth home run of the season.
- Liberty reliever Aydan Decker-Perry picks up the win. He came on in the eighth and got the final out of the inning. He walked one.
- Harrington records his team-leading fifth save of the season. He gave up one hit and struck out a batter in the ninth.
- Liberty starting pitcher Bradley Zayack locked in a pitchers' duel over the first six innings with WKU starter Gavin Perry. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits over six innings and did not figure in the decision. The right-hander struck out one and walked one.
- Reliever Nathan Lawson, the third of five pitchers the Hilltoppers used in the ninth inning, takes the loss. Lawson allowed two runs on two hits over 1/3 of work.
- WKU starting pitcher Perry worked into the ninth inning. He pitched eight scoreless innings, before running into trouble in the ninth. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over eight innings, striking out nine and walking one.
- Hilltoppers catcher Camden Ross broke up a scoreless game with a two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was his third home run of the season.
- WKU second baseman Austin Haller had two hits and scored two runs.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty sweeps consecutive CUSA three-game series. Last week, the Flames swept FIU at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Flames have won six conference games in a row and won eight of their last nine CUSA contests.
- Barone's grand slam was his first as a Flame.
- Riley DeCandido reached base three times in the game with a single, a walk and a hit by pitch. He has reached base safely in a team-leading 20 consecutive games.
- Third baseman Jordan Jaffe singled in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
Up Next
Liberty travels to Blacksburg, Va., for a contest against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Tuesday. Game time at English Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The first three Flames reached to load the bases with no one out in the top of the ninth inning. First baseman Jaxon Sorenson walked to force in Liberty's first run of the contest to make it 5-1 WKU. Two batters, left fielder Nick Barone, followed by launching a 2-1 pitch over the left center field wall for a grand slam to tie the game at 5-5.
Later in the inning, the Flames again loaded the bases, this time with two outs. After shortstop Tanner Marsh was intentionally walked to load the bases, right fielder Riley DeCandido was hit by a pitch, bringing in the go-ahead run home and giving Liberty a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Cooper Harrington pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the Liberty victory.
Liberty extends its winning streak to seven games. The Flames move to 9-3 in CUSA and 22-9 overall. Western Kentucky drops to 4-8 in CUSA and 16-16 overall.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (22-9, 9-3 CUSA); WKU (16-16, 4-8 CUSA)
Location: Nick Denes Field
WP: Aidan Decker-Petty (2-4) | LP: Nathan Lawson (2-2) | SV: Cooper Harrington (5)
Scoring Summary
6th – WKU - Ross homers, Haller scores, 2-0
7th – WKU – Frost singles, Hayes scores, 3-0
8th – WKU – Haller singles, Robbins scores, 4-0
8th – WKU – Haller scores on a wild pitch, 5-0
9th – LIBERTY – Sorenson walks, Marsh scores, 5-1
9th – LIBERTY – Barone homers, Sorenson, Jaffe, and DeCandio score, 5-5
9th – LIBERTY – DeCandido hit by pitch, Scilley scores, 6-5
Notable Numbers
- WKU outhit Liberty, 9-7, in the contest. The Hilltoppers committed two errors.
- The Flames left six men on base. The Hilltoppers left five.
- Barone's grand slam was his fourth home run of the season.
- Liberty reliever Aydan Decker-Perry picks up the win. He came on in the eighth and got the final out of the inning. He walked one.
- Harrington records his team-leading fifth save of the season. He gave up one hit and struck out a batter in the ninth.
- Liberty starting pitcher Bradley Zayack locked in a pitchers' duel over the first six innings with WKU starter Gavin Perry. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits over six innings and did not figure in the decision. The right-hander struck out one and walked one.
- Reliever Nathan Lawson, the third of five pitchers the Hilltoppers used in the ninth inning, takes the loss. Lawson allowed two runs on two hits over 1/3 of work.
- WKU starting pitcher Perry worked into the ninth inning. He pitched eight scoreless innings, before running into trouble in the ninth. The right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over eight innings, striking out nine and walking one.
- Hilltoppers catcher Camden Ross broke up a scoreless game with a two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was his third home run of the season.
- WKU second baseman Austin Haller had two hits and scored two runs.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty sweeps consecutive CUSA three-game series. Last week, the Flames swept FIU at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Flames have won six conference games in a row and won eight of their last nine CUSA contests.
- Barone's grand slam was his first as a Flame.
- Riley DeCandido reached base three times in the game with a single, a walk and a hit by pitch. He has reached base safely in a team-leading 20 consecutive games.
- Third baseman Jordan Jaffe singled in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
Up Next
Liberty travels to Blacksburg, Va., for a contest against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Tuesday. Game time at English Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Decker-Petty, Aydan (2-4)
L: Nathan Lawson (2-2)
S: Harrington, Cooper (5)
Batting:
HR: Barone, Nick 1
RBI: DeCandido, Riley 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Barone, Nick 4
SH: Drumm, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; DeCandido, Riley 1 ; Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Barone, Nick 1 ; Scilley, Landon 1
CS: Scilley, Landon 1
HBP: DeCandido, Riley 1
Batting:
2B: Kyle Hayes 1 ; Hayden Robbins 1
HR: Camden Ross 1
RBI: Camden Ross 3 ; Cael Frost 1
SH: Parker Coley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Austin Haller 2 ; Camden Ross 1 ; Kyle Hayes 1 ; Hayden Robbins 1
SB: Parker Coley 2 ; Cael Frost 1
PO: Parker Coley 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
OF
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RHP
/ BaseballINF
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INF
/ Baseball
RHP
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