Sunday, May 31
Athens, Ga.
5:00 PM
Liberty University
43-21
1
at
6
Georgia
49-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIBERTY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | X | 6 | 7 | 0 |
No. 3 Georgia Slips Past Liberty 6-1 to Claim NCAA Athens, Ga., Regional
5/31/2026 9:57:00 PM | Baseball
ATHENS, GA. – Despite an outstanding effort by right-hander Cooper Harrington, a two-run home run by Georgia third baseman Ty Phelps proved to be the difference as the No. 4 national seed and No. 3-ranked Bulldogs edged the Liberty Flames 6-1 to capture the NCAA Athens, Ga, Regional on Sunday evening at Foley Field.
Harrington and Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki locked in a pitcher's duel throughout the first six innings. The Flames took a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat of the night against Aoki on a single by first baseman Jaxon Sorenson.
Meanwhile, Harrington held Georgia to one hit through the first five innings of play. However, in the sixth inning, right fielder Ryan Black was hit by a pitch with one out and Phelps followed by hitting his 19th home run to give the Bulldogs the lead that they did not relinquish.
Georgia reliever Zach Brown took over from Aoki and pitched three scoreless innings to close out the victory.
Liberty designated hitter Riley DeCandido went 3-for-4 to lead all hitters in the contest and scored the Flames' lone run.
Liberty finishes the year with a 43-21. Georgia wins the NCAA Athens, Ga., Regional and advances to an NCAA SuperRegional next week. The Bulldogs up their record to 49-12 on the season.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (43-21); Georgia (49-12)
Location: Athens, Ga. (Foley Field)
WP: Caden Aoki (9-1) | LP: Cooper Harrington (2-2) | SV: Zach Brown (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, DeCandido scores, 1-0
6th – UGA – Phelps homers, Black scores, 2-1
8th – UGA – O' Shaughnessy homers, 3-1
8th – UGA – Lujo doubles, Jackson scores, 4-1
8th – UGA – Wyn singles, Hudson and Lujo score, 6-1
Notable Numbers
- Hits in the game were tied at 7-7. Neither team committed an error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Georgia left six.
- Left fielder Nick Barone had two doubles for the Flames.
- Harrington takes the loss. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
- Aoki picks up his ninth win of the season. He gave up one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out 11 and walked one.
- Bulldog reliever Zach Brown recorded a save. He pitched three scoreless innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
- Joining Phelps with a home run was Michael O'Shaughnessy, who hit his 18th home run.
- SEC Player of the Year, catcher Daniel Jackson, had two hits and scored a run for the Bulldogs.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Flames played in their third regional final in program history. Liberty advanced to the NCAA Columbia, S.C., Regional final in 2013 and the NCAA Knoxville, Tenn., Regional in 2021.
- Liberty finishes the year with 43 wins, tying the 2011 and 2019 Flames for the most wins in a single season in program history.
- The Flames' pitching staff finished the season with 576 strikeouts, the second most in program history.
- With three hits in the contest, DeCandido recorded his fifth three-hit and 15th multi-hit game of the season.
- Barone posted his 23rd multi-hit game of the season with his two doubles in the contest.
- Harrington's 6 1/3-inning was the longest of his career.
Harrington and Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki locked in a pitcher's duel throughout the first six innings. The Flames took a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat of the night against Aoki on a single by first baseman Jaxon Sorenson.
Meanwhile, Harrington held Georgia to one hit through the first five innings of play. However, in the sixth inning, right fielder Ryan Black was hit by a pitch with one out and Phelps followed by hitting his 19th home run to give the Bulldogs the lead that they did not relinquish.
Georgia reliever Zach Brown took over from Aoki and pitched three scoreless innings to close out the victory.
Liberty designated hitter Riley DeCandido went 3-for-4 to lead all hitters in the contest and scored the Flames' lone run.
Liberty finishes the year with a 43-21. Georgia wins the NCAA Athens, Ga., Regional and advances to an NCAA SuperRegional next week. The Bulldogs up their record to 49-12 on the season.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (43-21); Georgia (49-12)
Location: Athens, Ga. (Foley Field)
WP: Caden Aoki (9-1) | LP: Cooper Harrington (2-2) | SV: Zach Brown (2)
Scoring Summary
1st – LIBERTY – Sorenson singles, DeCandido scores, 1-0
6th – UGA – Phelps homers, Black scores, 2-1
8th – UGA – O' Shaughnessy homers, 3-1
8th – UGA – Lujo doubles, Jackson scores, 4-1
8th – UGA – Wyn singles, Hudson and Lujo score, 6-1
Notable Numbers
- Hits in the game were tied at 7-7. Neither team committed an error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. Georgia left six.
- Left fielder Nick Barone had two doubles for the Flames.
- Harrington takes the loss. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
- Aoki picks up his ninth win of the season. He gave up one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out 11 and walked one.
- Bulldog reliever Zach Brown recorded a save. He pitched three scoreless innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
- Joining Phelps with a home run was Michael O'Shaughnessy, who hit his 18th home run.
- SEC Player of the Year, catcher Daniel Jackson, had two hits and scored a run for the Bulldogs.
Beyond the Box Score
- The Flames played in their third regional final in program history. Liberty advanced to the NCAA Columbia, S.C., Regional final in 2013 and the NCAA Knoxville, Tenn., Regional in 2021.
- Liberty finishes the year with 43 wins, tying the 2011 and 2019 Flames for the most wins in a single season in program history.
- The Flames' pitching staff finished the season with 576 strikeouts, the second most in program history.
- With three hits in the contest, DeCandido recorded his fifth three-hit and 15th multi-hit game of the season.
- Barone posted his 23rd multi-hit game of the season with his two doubles in the contest.
- Harrington's 6 1/3-inning was the longest of his career.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Caden Aoki (9-1)
L: Harrington, Cooper (2-2)
S: Zach Brown (2)
Batting:
2B: DeCandido, Riley 1 ; Barone, Nick 2
RBI: Sorenson, Jaxon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeCandido, Riley 1
Batting:
2B: Daniel Jackson 1 ; Rylan Lujo 1
HR: Tre Phelps 1 ; M. O'Shaughnessy 1
RBI: Tre Phelps 2 ; M. O'Shaughnessy 1 ; Rylan Lujo 1 ; Ryan Wynn 2
SH: Kenny Ishikawa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tre Phelps 1 ; M. O'Shaughnessy 1 ; Daniel Jackson 1 ; Rylan Lujo 1 ; Brennan Hudson 1 ; Ryan Black 1
SB: Ryan Wynn 1
HBP: Ryan Wynn 1 ; Ryan Black 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
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