The opening contest of the final Conference USA series unfolded at Reese Smith Jr. Field, where the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders took on the Liberty Flames in a tightly watched baseball showdown.
A pivotal matchup at Reese Smith Jr. Field
From the first inning the Raiders surged ahead, ultimately plating eight unanswered runs and never looking back. Their offense built a steady lead that stretched through the game, culminating in a final score that left the Flames scrambling to answer.
Key contributors for the Raiders included second baseman Cooper Clapp, who cracked his tenth home run of the season and drove in two runs, and starter David Horn, who earned the win after surrendering just one run on six hits over four innings. Reliever Aydan Decker‑Perry shut the door with four scoreless frames, preserving the lead.
What the numbers reveal
Middle Tennessee outhit Liberty 11‑8, and the Raiders’ pitching staff combined for a strong performance, while the Flames could only muster eight hits, with Jordan Jaffe and Landon Scilly each collecting two. The loss dropped Liberty to 19‑9 in CUSA play and 36‑18 overall, marking their fifth defeat in six recent outings and exposing a road record that had once ranked among the nation’s best.
The teams will meet again tomorrow at the same venue, giving Liberty a chance to rebound from a night that saw them fail to reach three runs for the first time since a February loss to West Virginia.