Sunday, May 24
Kennesaw, Ga.
12:00 PM ET
Liberty University
41-19
0
vs
10
Jacksonville State
46-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Jacksonville St. | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
No. 1 Seed Jax State Tops No. 2 Seed Liberty in CUSA Title Game
5/24/2026 3:48:00 PM | Baseball
KENNESAW, GA. – The No. 1 Seed Jacksonville State Gamecocks run-ruled the No. 2 seed Liberty Flames 10-0 in seven innings in the title game of the 2026 CUSA Baseball Championship at Mickey Dunn Stadium.
Gamecock starter Steven Cash and reliever Jud Files combined to hold the Flames to two hits over the first six innings. Files wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning to keep Liberty scoreless.
The Flames also came away empty in the seventh inning after filling the bases with one out.
Jax State hit four home runs in the contest, led by CUSA Tournament MVP Sam Richardson, who had two.
Liberty sees its five-game win streak come to an end. The Flames fall to 41-19 on the season. Jax State wins its first-ever CUSA Championship, upping its record to 46-13.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (41-19); Jax State (46-13)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Mickey Dunn Stadium)
WP: Jud Files (2-0) | LP: Josh Swink (3-3)
Scoring Summary
2nd – JSU – Richardson homers, 1-0
3rd – JSU – Johnson homers, Cash scores, 3-0
3rd – JSU – Thomas homers, Ashe scores, 5-0
5th – JSU – King reaches on a sacrifice bunt, Pate scores, 6-0
5th – JSU – Ashe singles, Johnson scores, 7-0
5th – JSU – Blauser flies out, King scores, 8-0
7th – JSU – Richardson homers, Blauser scores, 10-0
Notable Numbers
- Jax State outhit Liberty, 12-3. The Flames committed the game's only error.
- The Flames left seven men on base. The Bears left four.
- Liberty starting pitcher Josh Swink takes the loss. The left-hander gave up seven runs, four earned, on seven hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked one.
- Files picks up the win in relief for Jax State. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four and walked two.
- Gamecock shortstop Caleb Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
- Johnson and Brady Thomas joined Richardson with home runs in the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty was playing in its first CUSA Championship game since joining the conference three years ago. In addition, the Flames appeared in a conference championship for the first time since 2022 when they fell to Kennesaw State in the 2022 ASUN Championship, 10-6, in Fort Myers, Fla.
- Outfielders Nick Barone and Josh Campos and pitcher Ben Blair were selected to the 2026 CUSA All-Team for their efforts during the week.
- It is only the second time this season that the Flames have been run-ruled. Liberty fell 11-0 at Wake Forest in 11 innings on March 17.
- Liberty second baseman Easton Swofford had a hit in the contest to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Up Next
Liberty will wait to see if they are one of the 64 teams in the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The selections and regional pairings will be announced tomorrow on ESPN2 at Noon.
Gamecock starter Steven Cash and reliever Jud Files combined to hold the Flames to two hits over the first six innings. Files wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning to keep Liberty scoreless.
The Flames also came away empty in the seventh inning after filling the bases with one out.
Jax State hit four home runs in the contest, led by CUSA Tournament MVP Sam Richardson, who had two.
Liberty sees its five-game win streak come to an end. The Flames fall to 41-19 on the season. Jax State wins its first-ever CUSA Championship, upping its record to 46-13.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (41-19); Jax State (46-13)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. (Mickey Dunn Stadium)
WP: Jud Files (2-0) | LP: Josh Swink (3-3)
Scoring Summary
2nd – JSU – Richardson homers, 1-0
3rd – JSU – Johnson homers, Cash scores, 3-0
3rd – JSU – Thomas homers, Ashe scores, 5-0
5th – JSU – King reaches on a sacrifice bunt, Pate scores, 6-0
5th – JSU – Ashe singles, Johnson scores, 7-0
5th – JSU – Blauser flies out, King scores, 8-0
7th – JSU – Richardson homers, Blauser scores, 10-0
Notable Numbers
- Jax State outhit Liberty, 12-3. The Flames committed the game's only error.
- The Flames left seven men on base. The Bears left four.
- Liberty starting pitcher Josh Swink takes the loss. The left-hander gave up seven runs, four earned, on seven hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked one.
- Files picks up the win in relief for Jax State. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He struck out four and walked two.
- Gamecock shortstop Caleb Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
- Johnson and Brady Thomas joined Richardson with home runs in the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty was playing in its first CUSA Championship game since joining the conference three years ago. In addition, the Flames appeared in a conference championship for the first time since 2022 when they fell to Kennesaw State in the 2022 ASUN Championship, 10-6, in Fort Myers, Fla.
- Outfielders Nick Barone and Josh Campos and pitcher Ben Blair were selected to the 2026 CUSA All-Team for their efforts during the week.
- It is only the second time this season that the Flames have been run-ruled. Liberty fell 11-0 at Wake Forest in 11 innings on March 17.
- Liberty second baseman Easton Swofford had a hit in the contest to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Up Next
Liberty will wait to see if they are one of the 64 teams in the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The selections and regional pairings will be announced tomorrow on ESPN2 at Noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jud Files (2-0)
L: Swink, Josh (3-3)
Base Running:
HBP: DeCandido, Riley 1 ; Sorenson, Jaxon 1
Batting:
2B: Caleb Johnson 1 ; Grayson Ashe 1
HR: Caleb Johnson 1 ; Brady Thomas 1 ; Sam Richardson 2
RBI: Caleb Johnson 2 ; Trey King 1 ; Grayson Ashe 1 ; Brady Thomas 2 ; Cooper Blauser 1 ; Sam Richardson 3
SH: Trey King 2
SF: Cooper Blauser 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jaxon Pate 1 ; Caleb Johnson 2 ; Trey King 1 ; Grayson Ashe 1 ; Brady Thomas 1 ; Cooper Blauser 1 ; Sam Richardson 2 ; Matthew Cash 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF
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Thursday, May 21