LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Diamond 'Dogs (31-22, 17-10 CUSA) came up just short of a weekend sweep on the road, falling to Liberty (36-16, 19-8 CUSA), 3-2, at Wilington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium Sunday afternoon in Lynchburg.
 
The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second with the first three batters reaching safely on a base hit. Liberty led the frame off with a first-pitch single before a first-pitch double put a pair of runners in scoring position. Both were cashed in the following at-bat with a base hit back up the middle of the infield.
 
The home side's lead was extended the next inning on an RBI groundout after the leadoff man drew a four-pitch walk and reached third on a sacrifice bunt and a balk, eventually scoring on an RBI groundout.
 
The 'Dogs put runners on through each of the first three frames, but were unable to advance a man past second base with four runners left on through the opening third.
 
Cade Patterson and Casey McCoy led off the fifth with two singles, allowing Colby Lunsford to drive in Patterson the next at-bat with a fly ball hit deep to the left center gap and off the outfield wall.
 
Trey Hawsey followed with drawing a 2-2 count and driving in McCoy with a sac fly to center before a pair of first-pitch putouts left the tying run stranded 90 feet from home.
 
After a one-out walk drawn in the seventh, Tech saw its next nine hitters be retired in order.
 
With one out in the top of the ninth, still trailing by a run, Hayden Gustavson put himself on base with a walk after entering as a pinch hitter. However, Gustavson would be the final baserunner of the contest as a looking strikeout and a pop up allowed Liberty to take the Sunday victory and avoid the sweep.
 
Sunday's loss marked the first time this season the 'Dogs dropped a series finale after taking the first two games of the weekend.
 
Lunsford collected three of Tech's six hits, picking up his fifth three-hit game and 20th multi-hit game, joining Colton Coates and Hawsey as the only three Bulldogs with 20 multi-hit games this season.
 
Eli Berch's 19-game reached base streak was snapped after an 0-4 day at the plate while Hawsey's (22 games) and Lunsford's (21 games) respective streaks were extended.
 
The 'Dogs now look ahead to the final weekend series of the 2026 season, hosting Sam Houston at the Love Shack May 14-16. First pitch times are set for 6 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 1 p.m. CT. Senior Day recognitions will take place on the field following the conclusion of the regular season finale on Saturday.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs:
"I feel like the collection of arms that Liberty has are probably the best that we have seen in the league. We only haven't played Sam Houston or Western Kentucky, but they're as good of arms that we have seen in a long time, probably since the Southern Miss series. We saw some really good arms, and I thought our guys did a great job this weekend. We came up here to win a series, and that's what we did. I love the way this team is playing—they're fighting, they're playing hard and playing together. You break the game down, we made three huge baserunning mistakes in the early innings. The little things start adding up—just wasn't that clean as far as that goes. But as far as the effort and the competitive edge, it's as good as it has been all year. I'm not going to walk out of here and be down—we won the series and that's all that matters. Obviously, we wanted the sweep but not many people come into Lynchburg and get a sweep. I'm very proud of our guys for finding a way to get it done this weekend against some really good arms."
 
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