MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders routed the Liberty Flames 8-1 on Thursday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field, using a six-run second inning and a solo homer in the third to build an insurmountable lead in a Conference USA matchup.

Middle Tennessee improved to 26-27 overall while Liberty dropped to 36-18.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the bottom of the second inning. With the score scoreless, Nathan Brewer singled to left field to lead off the frame. Layne Akers sacrificed him to second with a bunt, and Brett Rogers followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Brewer for the game’s first run. Dean O’Neill then reached on a fielder’s choice, and Rogers advanced to third on an error by Liberty third baseman Jordan Jaffe. Brett Vondohlen was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Clay Badylak grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Rogers, though Vondohlen was forced out at second. Badylak stole second, putting two runners in scoring position. Owen Nowak then delivered a two-run single to left, scoring both Badylak and O’Neill, extending the lead to 4-0. The inning ended when Tyler Minnick fouled out to third.

The Blue Raiders added three more runs in the third. Cooper Clapp led off with a solo home run to left field, his shot making it 5-0. After a walk to Brewer and a sacrifice bunt by Akers, Rogers doubled to right field, driving in Brewer for a 6-0 advantage. Dean O’Neill followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Rogers to push the lead to 7-0. Vondohlen struck out and Badylak flied out to end the inning.

Middle Tennessee extended its lead to 8-0 in the fourth. Tyler Minnick doubled to left and Clapp singled to center, driving in Minnick. Brewer was hit by a pitch, and after a popout and a fielder’s choice, the inning ended with the bases loaded.

The Flames broke through in the sixth. Jordan Jaffe walked, advanced to second on a groundout, moved to third on a hit-by-pitch, and scored on a Landon Scilley single to right. That was the only run Liberty managed against Middle Tennessee pitching.

Liberty starter Aydan Decker-Petty took the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits over three innings. The Blue Raiders’ bullpen combination of John Michael Pickens and David Horn held the Flames scoreless over the final three innings.

Key individual performances included Minnick, who doubled and scored a run; Clapp, who homered, singled twice and drove in three runs; Brewer, who singled, doubled and scored twice; Akers, who executed two sacrifice bunts; and Vondohlen, who was hit by a pitch and later struck out twice. Rogers and O’Neill each contributed two hits and an RBI, and Nowak drove in two runs.

On the Liberty side, Jaffe walked twice, singled and scored the team’s only run. Scilley collected two hits and an RBI.

The Flames had won four of their previous six games entering Thursday, including a series win against Louisiana Tech and a midweek loss to Wake Forest. The Blue Raiders had dropped four of their last five, including a Tuesday walk-off win over Memphis.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Liberty 6, Middle Tennessee 4, and the Interstat ELO system gave Liberty a 72.20 percent probability to win the game.