No. 1 seed and tournament host Louisiana Tech University came from behind to beat No. 5 seed Liberty University 8-7 and will play in the CUSA Tournament semifinals if necessary. The Flames and Bulldogs will meet again Saturday night at 8:30, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final against No. 2 seed Dallas Baptist University at 2 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
The Flames, who came into the game with a 2-0 record this week and fresh off a win over La Tech on Friday afternoon, took the lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer by Noah Lavon, his second extra-base hit of the season.
The Bulldogs wasted no time, hitting a three-run homer off Flames starter Todd Hudson in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 3-3. Louisiana Tech took its first lead of the night at 4-3 with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning.
The home team quickly put Liberty starting pitcher Todd Hudson out with just four outs, a stark contrast to the previous two days when Liberty earned wins behind the pitching of starters Cole Hartzler and Nick Moranth.
In the top of the third, Hudson answered back with a two-run double to put the Flames ahead again at 5-4 and it looked like it was going to be a high-scoring game.
Louisiana Tech rallied for two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 6-5, and the Bulldogs added one each in the fourth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 8-5. After scoring five runs in the first two innings, the Liberty was held scoreless over the next five innings as Louisiana Tech’s relief pitchers held the Flames’ offense in check.
The Flames tried to fight back in the top of the ninth when Kane Kepley singled to lead off the inning and Aidan Sweat hit a two-run homer, but the Bulldogs brought in closer Connor Nation, who got a one-out single by Todd Hudson to secure the win.
The Liberty used only three pitchers in the game, saving most of their bullpen for Saturday night’s game and Sunday’s game. Josh Swink pitched six innings for the Flames, allowing two runs on three hits while walking five and striking out five. He also allowed three hits to three batters.
CUSA Tournament Schedule/Results
All games will be streamed on ESPN+ except for Sunday’s championship game (CBS Sports Network).
Wednesday, May 22
Game 1: #6 FIU 7, #3 Western Kentucky 5
Game 2: No. 2 Dallas Baptist University 5, No. 7 New Mexico State University 3
Thursday, May 23
Game 3: #1 LA Tech 8, #8 MTSU 2
Game 4: No. 5 Liberty 9, No. 4 Sam Houston 1
Game 5: #3 WKU 8, #7 NM State 2 – NMSU is eliminated
Game 6: #2 DBU 8, #6 FIU 2
Friday, May 24
Game 7: #4 Sam Houston 2, #8 Middle Tennessee 0 – MTSU lost
Game 8: No. 5 Liberty 6, No. 1 LA Tech 2
Game 9: #3 WKU 8, #6 FIU 5 – FIU is eliminated
Game 10: #1 LA Tech 5, #4 Sam Houston 3 – Sam Houston is defeated
Saturday, May 25
Game 11: #2 DBU 7, #3 WKU 5 – WKU lost.
Game 12: #1 LA Tech 8, #5 Liberty 7
Game 13: No
Game 14: No. 5 Liberty vs. No. 1 LA Tech, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 26
No. 2 DBU vs. TBD, championship final, 2 p.m.
