LYNCHBURG, Va. — Middle Tennessee softball dominated No. 24 Liberty, 8-2, handing the Flames their first Conference USA loss of the season on Friday, April 4. Jana Want crushed two three-run home runs to tie the program record with six RBIs in a single game — the first Blue Raider to do so since 2016. The mark also tied the RBI record at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.

The Blue Raiders (18-19, 7-6 CUSA) were firing on all cylinders, combining timely hitting, strong pitching, and solid defense to take down Liberty (31-8, 11-1 CUSA). The Flames entered the game averaging nearly seven runs per contest, but Leila Ammon held their prolific offense in check, allowing just one earned run over six innings. The performance lowered her ERA to 2.44 — fifth-best in the conference. Mary Martinez closed the game with a scoreless seventh inning.

Liberty's pitching staff came into the game boasting a 2.18 ERA, but the Blue Raider bats rose to the challenge. Want's six RBIs moved her to fifth in the league with 32 on the season. She also ranks fifth in OPS with a 1.189 mark, showcasing her ability to get on base and hit for power. The freshman became the fifth Blue Raider to record a multi-home run game this season — an impressive milestone.

Ansley Blevins added a two-run blast to right field, her 11th home run of the season and eighth in conference play. Her eight homers in league action are tied for the most in CUSA with Liberty's Rachel Roupe. Julia Garcia reached base in all four plate appearances, tallying two singles and drawing two walks.

When asked about her record-setting day, Jana Want said the following: "It felt amazing to show up and compete like we did against such a good team. Our offense, defense, and pitching all stepped up today."

By the Numbers

• 42: With three today, the 2025 Blue Raiders have recorded 42 home runs as a team, closing in on the program record of 44 set last season.
• 2: MTSU holds an 11-0 record when holding opponents to two runs or less.
• 19: The Blue Raiders have recorded a home run in 19 consecutive games.
• 1.500: Both Ansley Blevins and Jana Want boast an OPS above 1.500 during conference play.

Up next
The Blue Raiders will play a double header at Liberty tomorrow, April 5, with the first games set to begin at 1:00 pm CT and the second game 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first. The games will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at Stat Broadcast.