Thursday, May 21
Kennesaw, Ga.
10:00 AM ET
Liberty University
39-18
10
vs
4
Sam Houston
25-33
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 2 |
| Sam Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
No. 2 Seed Liberty Tops No. 8 Seed Sam Houston in CUSA Opener
5/21/2026 3:19:00 PM | Baseball
KENNESAW, GA. – The No. 2 seed Liberty Flames broke open a tight game with four runs in the sixth inning en route to a 10-4 victory over No. 8 seed Sam Houston Bearkats in Pool B play Thursday in their opening game of the 2026 CUSA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Flames struck for four runs in the sixth inning. With runners at the corners and no one out, designated hitter Landon Scilley started scoring with his second RBI single of the contest for a 3-1 lead. Catcher Kyle Hvidsten followed by lifting a three-run home run over the center field wall, his fifth of the season, for a 6-1 lead and never looked back.
Sam Houston did score two in the eighth to close to within three runs at 6-3, but Liberty answered back with four in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run home run by left fielder Nick Barone.
Meanwhile, Liberty right-hander Ben Blair, the 2026 CUSA Pitcher of the Year, allowed an unearned run on three hits over six innings to record the win.
CUSA All-Conference first team outfielder Barone had three hits, including a double and his team-leading 11th home run of the season for the Flames. He had three RBI and scored three runs.
Third baseman Jordan Jaffe joined Barone with three hits. He knocked in a run and scored a run.
Liberty moves to 1-0 in Pool B play and 39-18 overall. Sam Houston completes Pool B play with a 1-1 record and a 25-33 overall record.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (39-18); Sam Houston (25-33)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Mickey Dunn Stadium)
WP: Ben Blair (7-5) | LP: Tate Hickman (2-4) | SV: Cooper Harrington (12)
Scoring Summary
2nd – LIBERTY - Scilley singles, Barone scores, 1-0
3rd – LIBERTY - Jaffe singles, Marsh scores, 2-0
4th – SHSU - Martinez walks, Baker scores, 2-1
6th – LIBERTY - Scilley singles, Barone scores, 3-1
6th – LIBERTY – Hvidsten homers, Scilley and Swofford score, 6-1
8th – SHSU – Martinez singles, Alvord scores, 6-2
8th – SHSU – Curtis hit by a pitch, Bazmore scores, 6-3
9th – LIBERTY – Barone homers, Sorenson and Jaffe score, 9-3
9th – LIBERTY – Scilley wild pitch, 10-3
9th – SHSU – Bazemore doubles, Cotton scores, 10-4
Notable Numbers
- The Flames outhit the Bearkats, 12-6, in the contest. Liberty committed two errors. Sam Houston made one.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Sam Houston left 13 men on base.
- Scilley had two hits, both RBI singles, and scored two runs for the Flames.
- CUSA Player of the Year Tanner Marsh also had two hits and scored a run for Liberty.
- Blair struck out four and walked five in recording his seventh win of the season.
- Cooper Harrington records his 12th save of the season for Liberty. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.
- Sam Houston starter Tate Hickman takes the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.
- Shortstop Hunter Alvord had two hits and scored a run for the Bearkats.
Beyond the Box Score
- With its win today, Liberty wins Pool B and advances to Saturday's semifinals.
- The Flames move one win away from becoming the sixth team in program history to win 40 games.
- Blair recorded the 242nd strikeout of his career in the contest. The junior right-hander is now tied with Tim Harrell (1995 -98) for third on Liberty's all-time strikeout list.
- Barone posts his 19th multi-hit game and his fifth three-hit game of the season. He ups his team-leading RBI total to 53.
- Jaffe records his 20th multi-hit game and fifth three-hit game of the season.
- Marsh collects his team-leading 23 multi-hit game of the season. The shortstop scored a run and is now third on the program's single-season list with 65 runs scored. He needs three more to tie the school record.
- Scilley had his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
- August made his team-high 25th appearance in the contest.
Up Next
Liberty will play the No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the final game of Pool B at the 2026 CUSA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Flames struck for four runs in the sixth inning. With runners at the corners and no one out, designated hitter Landon Scilley started scoring with his second RBI single of the contest for a 3-1 lead. Catcher Kyle Hvidsten followed by lifting a three-run home run over the center field wall, his fifth of the season, for a 6-1 lead and never looked back.
Sam Houston did score two in the eighth to close to within three runs at 6-3, but Liberty answered back with four in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run home run by left fielder Nick Barone.
Meanwhile, Liberty right-hander Ben Blair, the 2026 CUSA Pitcher of the Year, allowed an unearned run on three hits over six innings to record the win.
CUSA All-Conference first team outfielder Barone had three hits, including a double and his team-leading 11th home run of the season for the Flames. He had three RBI and scored three runs.
Third baseman Jordan Jaffe joined Barone with three hits. He knocked in a run and scored a run.
Liberty moves to 1-0 in Pool B play and 39-18 overall. Sam Houston completes Pool B play with a 1-1 record and a 25-33 overall record.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (39-18); Sam Houston (25-33)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Mickey Dunn Stadium)
WP: Ben Blair (7-5) | LP: Tate Hickman (2-4) | SV: Cooper Harrington (12)
Scoring Summary
2nd – LIBERTY - Scilley singles, Barone scores, 1-0
3rd – LIBERTY - Jaffe singles, Marsh scores, 2-0
4th – SHSU - Martinez walks, Baker scores, 2-1
6th – LIBERTY - Scilley singles, Barone scores, 3-1
6th – LIBERTY – Hvidsten homers, Scilley and Swofford score, 6-1
8th – SHSU – Martinez singles, Alvord scores, 6-2
8th – SHSU – Curtis hit by a pitch, Bazmore scores, 6-3
9th – LIBERTY – Barone homers, Sorenson and Jaffe score, 9-3
9th – LIBERTY – Scilley wild pitch, 10-3
9th – SHSU – Bazemore doubles, Cotton scores, 10-4
Notable Numbers
- The Flames outhit the Bearkats, 12-6, in the contest. Liberty committed two errors. Sam Houston made one.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Sam Houston left 13 men on base.
- Scilley had two hits, both RBI singles, and scored two runs for the Flames.
- CUSA Player of the Year Tanner Marsh also had two hits and scored a run for Liberty.
- Blair struck out four and walked five in recording his seventh win of the season.
- Cooper Harrington records his 12th save of the season for Liberty. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.
- Sam Houston starter Tate Hickman takes the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.
- Shortstop Hunter Alvord had two hits and scored a run for the Bearkats.
Beyond the Box Score
- With its win today, Liberty wins Pool B and advances to Saturday's semifinals.
- The Flames move one win away from becoming the sixth team in program history to win 40 games.
- Blair recorded the 242nd strikeout of his career in the contest. The junior right-hander is now tied with Tim Harrell (1995 -98) for third on Liberty's all-time strikeout list.
- Barone posts his 19th multi-hit game and his fifth three-hit game of the season. He ups his team-leading RBI total to 53.
- Jaffe records his 20th multi-hit game and fifth three-hit game of the season.
- Marsh collects his team-leading 23 multi-hit game of the season. The shortstop scored a run and is now third on the program's single-season list with 65 runs scored. He needs three more to tie the school record.
- Scilley had his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
- August made his team-high 25th appearance in the contest.
Up Next
Liberty will play the No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the final game of Pool B at the 2026 CUSA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blair, Ben (7-5)
L: Tate Hickman (2-4)
S: Harrington, Cooper (12)
Batting:
2B: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Barone, Nick 1
HR: Barone, Nick 1 ; Hvidsten, Kyle 1
RBI: Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Barone, Nick 3 ; Scilley, Landon 2 ; Hvidsten, Kyle 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1 ; Barone, Nick 3 ; Swofford, Easton 1 ; Scilley, Landon 2 ; Hvidsten, Kyle 1
SB: Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Scilley, Landon 2
HBP: Jaffe, Jordan 1 ; Scilley, Landon 1 ; Hvidsten, Kyle 1
Batting:
2B: Hunter Alvord 1 ; Sean Bazmore 1
RBI: Jeric Curtis 1 ; Sean Bazmore 1 ; Jace Martinez 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Wes Baker 2 ; Hunter Alvord 1 ; Sean Bazmore 1
SB: Jeric Curtis 1 ; Kirby Orth 1
CS: Hunter Alvord 1
HBP: Jeric Curtis 1 ; Sean Bazmore 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
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/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballRHP/INF
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