The Blue Raiders concluded their season with an 8‑7 defeat at the hands of Liberty on a crisp evening in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a game that swung back and forth until the very last out.
Early Sparks and Momentum Shifts
Brett Vondohlen opened the scoring with a two‑run shot in the second inning, his sixth homer of the year, while Dean O'Neill followed with a solo blast that put the hosts ahead 3‑0.
Liberty answered in the fifth with a pair of long balls that shifted momentum, and an additional run in the sixth stretched their lead to 5‑3.
The Raiders rallied in the bottom of the fifth, seizing a 6‑5 advantage before Owen Nowak ignited the crowd with a leadoff line‑drive homer in the seventh, extending the lead to 7‑5.
But Liberty refused to fold; with one out in the eighth, first baseman Riley DeCandido drove in the tying run, making it 7‑7.
Vondohlen finished the game 2‑for‑4 with four RBIs and a run scored, while O'Neill went 2‑for‑3, adding three runs and an RBI. Pitcher Cole Torbett limited the opposition to one earned run over four innings, striking out three.
The contest also marked the recognition of ten seniors — Kyle Hvidtsen, Nathan Brewer, Bryant Beranek, Landen Burch, Cale Vinson, Landon Sexton, Ollie Akens, Drew Hillian, David Horn Jr., Clay Badylak, and two others — who were celebrated on the field for their contributions throughout the year.
Head Coach Jerry Meyers praised the team’s resilience and highlighted the seniors’ contributions, while Vondohlen spoke about a stance adjustment that he believes will carry him into the upcoming tournament, and O'Neill reflected on the camaraderie that defined his final season.