Thursday, May 22
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM ET
Liberty University
30-27
2
vs
5
Louisiana Tech
32-24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Liberty
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
1
LATECH
3
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
X
5
7
0
No. 5 Seed LA Tech Eliminates No. 8 Seed Liberty 5-2
5/22/2025 9:11:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – The No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeated the No. 8 seed Liberty, eliminating the Flames from the 2025 CUSA Baseball Championship on Thursday afternoon at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
After working out of a one-out, base-loaded jam in the top of the first inning, the Bulldogs took advantage of a Liberty error to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they never relinquished.
Liberty cut into Louisiana Tech's lead on designated hitter Anderson Fulk's third home run of the season in the second inning and a run in the third inning. However, the Bulldogs extended their lead to the final score of 5-2 with two runs in the sixth inning.
The Flames attempted to rally in the ninth as the first two men walked to bring the tying run to the plate, only to see Bulldog closer Blake Hooks end the scoring threat and close out the game.
Left fielder Nick Barone had two of Liberty's four hits in the game. He also had an RBI.
Liberty's season comes to an end with a 30-27 record. Louisiana Tech advances to another elimination game tomorrow against the loser of No. 1 seed Dallas Baptist and No. 4 seed Jax State later this evening.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (30-27); Louisiana Tech (32-24)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Luke Cooley (7-2) | LP: Ben Blair (6-4) | SV: Blake Hooks (9)
Scoring Summary
1st – LATECH - Mexico homers, 1-0
1st – LATECH – Berkley reaches on an error, Hawsey scores, 2-0
1st – LATECH – Berch singles, Coates scores, 3-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Fulk homers, 3-1
3rd – LIBERTY – Barone grounds out, Marsh scores, 3-2
6th – LATECH – Safford with a bunt single, Drost scores, 4-2
6th – LATECH – Coates grounds out, Safford scores, 5-2
Notable Numbers
- Louisiana Tech outhit Liberty, 7-4. The Flames committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. LA Tech left 12 men on base.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair takes the loss. Blair gave up five runs, three earned, on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.
- Liberty reliever Joseph Webb followed and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked three.
- Louisiana Tech's three pitchers walked nine batters in the game.
- Bulldog starting pitcher Logan Forsythe did not figure in the decision. He allowed two runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked six.
- Reliever Luke Cooley records his seventh win of the season for LA Tech. The left-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. He struck out one and walked one.
- Blake Hooks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save of the year. He struck out one and walked two.
- Designated hitter Sebastian Mexico hit his 12th home run of the season for the Bulldogs.
- LA Tech second baseman Michael Ballard had two hits in the contest.
Beyond the Box Score
- In its first season under Bradley LeCroy, Liberty won 30 games in a season for the first time since 2023.
- Barone finished the season with a team-high 52 RBI. The outfielder ended the year with 18 multi-hit games.
- Right fielder Camden Troyer walked twice in his final game at Liberty. The senior finishes the year with career-highs in batting average (.300), home runs (10) and RBI (44). He also had career-highs and led the Flames in runs scored (54) and slugging percentage (.524).
- Blair, who was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team, finishes the year among the CUSA leaders and led the Flames in ERA (6th), wins (tied – 7th), innings pitched (1st), strikeouts (1st) and opponent batting average (tied – 5th).
After working out of a one-out, base-loaded jam in the top of the first inning, the Bulldogs took advantage of a Liberty error to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they never relinquished.
Liberty cut into Louisiana Tech's lead on designated hitter Anderson Fulk's third home run of the season in the second inning and a run in the third inning. However, the Bulldogs extended their lead to the final score of 5-2 with two runs in the sixth inning.
The Flames attempted to rally in the ninth as the first two men walked to bring the tying run to the plate, only to see Bulldog closer Blake Hooks end the scoring threat and close out the game.
Left fielder Nick Barone had two of Liberty's four hits in the game. He also had an RBI.
Liberty's season comes to an end with a 30-27 record. Louisiana Tech advances to another elimination game tomorrow against the loser of No. 1 seed Dallas Baptist and No. 4 seed Jax State later this evening.
Box Score Highlights
Records: Liberty (30-27); Louisiana Tech (32-24)
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium)
WP: Luke Cooley (7-2) | LP: Ben Blair (6-4) | SV: Blake Hooks (9)
Scoring Summary
1st – LATECH - Mexico homers, 1-0
1st – LATECH – Berkley reaches on an error, Hawsey scores, 2-0
1st – LATECH – Berch singles, Coates scores, 3-0
2nd – LIBERTY – Fulk homers, 3-1
3rd – LIBERTY – Barone grounds out, Marsh scores, 3-2
6th – LATECH – Safford with a bunt single, Drost scores, 4-2
6th – LATECH – Coates grounds out, Safford scores, 5-2
Notable Numbers
- Louisiana Tech outhit Liberty, 7-4. The Flames committed the game's only error.
- Liberty left eight men on base. LA Tech left 12 men on base.
- Flames starting pitcher Ben Blair takes the loss. Blair gave up five runs, three earned, on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.
- Liberty reliever Joseph Webb followed and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked three.
- Louisiana Tech's three pitchers walked nine batters in the game.
- Bulldog starting pitcher Logan Forsythe did not figure in the decision. He allowed two runs on three hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked six.
- Reliever Luke Cooley records his seventh win of the season for LA Tech. The left-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win. He struck out one and walked one.
- Blake Hooks pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save of the year. He struck out one and walked two.
- Designated hitter Sebastian Mexico hit his 12th home run of the season for the Bulldogs.
- LA Tech second baseman Michael Ballard had two hits in the contest.
Beyond the Box Score
- In its first season under Bradley LeCroy, Liberty won 30 games in a season for the first time since 2023.
- Barone finished the season with a team-high 52 RBI. The outfielder ended the year with 18 multi-hit games.
- Right fielder Camden Troyer walked twice in his final game at Liberty. The senior finishes the year with career-highs in batting average (.300), home runs (10) and RBI (44). He also had career-highs and led the Flames in runs scored (54) and slugging percentage (.524).
- Blair, who was named to the CUSA All-Conference first team, finishes the year among the CUSA leaders and led the Flames in ERA (6th), wins (tied – 7th), innings pitched (1st), strikeouts (1st) and opponent batting average (tied – 5th).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Luke Cooley (7-2)
L: Blair, Ben (6-4)
S: Blake Hooks (9)
Batting:
2B: Barone, Nick 1
HR: Fulk, Anderson 1
RBI: Barone, Nick 1 ; Fulk, Anderson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marsh, Tanner 1 ; Fulk, Anderson 1
CS: Swofford, Easton 1
Batting:
2B: Trey Hawsey 1
3B: Brody Drost 1
HR: Sebastian Mexico 1
RBI: Sebastian Mexico 1 ; Colton Coates 1 ; Eli Berch 1 ; Will Safford 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sebastian Mexico 1 ; Trey Hawsey 1 ; Colton Coates 1 ; Brody Drost 1 ; Will Safford 1
HBP: Trey Hawsey 1 ; Garrison Berkley 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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