The Flames were in Winston Salem, North Carolina on Tuesday afternoon to take on Wake Forest, but the weather had other ideas as the game was canceled due to rain and thunderstorms. Before the game was scratched, freshman Trey Gibson was preparing to make his first career start.

Liberty was able to return home for a three game weekend series against Kennesaw State, who entered the weekend trailing the Flames by only two games for first place in the ASUN North Division. Liberty improved to 33-11 overall and 17-1 in ASUN play with the sweep. The Flames continue to be in the mix as a potential at-large team heading into the stretch run of the regular season and moving closer towards ASUN Tournament action.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 4, KENNESAW STATE 0

In what is becoming a regular occurrence, Trevor DeLaite hurled an absolute gem on Friday night as the Flames take the early 1-0 lead in the crucial ASUN series. Delaite pitched a complete game shutout while striking out five and allowing five hits. The Owls got to him in the first and loaded the bases before DeLaite got out of the jam, and he would go on to retire 13 straight batters.

The first 4.5 innings of the game breezed by in under an hour as the Flames and Owls were locked in a pitcher’s duel. The Flames would finally break through and scratch across two runs in the bottom of the 5th. Brady Gulakowski led off the inning with a single. Jaylen Guy would then reach with one out and both runners would advance to 2nd and 3rd on Gray Betts ground out. Aaron Anderson hit a hard grounder to first base that was not fielded cleanly by the first baseman and two runs would score on the play.

In the 6th, Jake Wilson walked and then stole second base. Logan Mathieu was intentionally walked with two outs as Kennesaw State wanted to get to Liberty’s No. 9 hitter Jaylen Guy. The center fielder came through in the clutch with a ground rule double to left field that would score both Wilson and Mathieu for the final runs of the game.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 6, KENNESAW STATE 5

Liberty jumped out to a 5-1 and 6-2 advantage and would hold on for the win to take the weekend series. Dylan Cumming made his first weekend start in a Flames’ uniform and pitched 5 innings while allowing just one run on three hits. The Liberty bullpen would allow four runs over four innings of relief, but Fraser Ellard was able to record his 5th save of the season by recording the final six outs.

Gulakowski had a game-high three hits, including his sixth home run of the year and a double while driving in two runs. Will Wagner also had three hits while driving in a run and scoring twice.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 4, KENNESAW STATE 1

Trey Gibson allowed one run on six hits while throwing the first complete game of his collegiate  career. The freshman struck out eight and did not walk a batter in the contest. With the three-game sweep of the Owls, Liberty clinched first place in the ASUN North Division for the upcoming ASUN Tournament.

Senior shortstop Cam Locklear celebrated Senior Day with three hits, two doubles and a triple, and scored twice in the game. Fellow senior Jake Wilson plated Locklear twice with his two hits in the contest. Brady Gulakowski hit his seventh home run of the season in the fourth inning, and he also walked with the bases loaded as he drove in two runs in the game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: BRADY GULAKOWSKI

Over the past month or so, Gulakowski has been on a tear. This week, Liberty’s designated hitter was 5 for 10 at the plate with four RBIs, three runs scored, a double, and two home runs.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: WEEKEND STARTERS

All three weekend starters were superb in the sweep of Kennesaw State as the Flames did not trail all weekend. The three starters combined to pitch of the 23 of the 27 innings, allowing two runs on 14 hits while striking out sixteen and walking two. Trevor DeLaite and Trey Gibson continued to made strong contributions in their normal Friday and Sunday roles, respectively, while Dylan Cumming entered the weekend rotation for the first time this season as he was handed the ball to begin Saturday’s game.

ON TAP

Liberty was scheduled to travel to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies this week, but due to the ACC’s 50-game regular season schedule limit, the game has been canceled.

This weekend, the Flames head to Kennesaw, Georgia for the final three regular season games of the season as Liberty and Kennesaw State meet once again ahead of next week’s ASUN Tournament.

ASUN STANDINGS

NORTH
Liberty……………………..17-1 ASUN…33-11 overall
Kennesaw State………12-6 ASUN…26-17 overall
Lipscomb………………..8-13 ASUN…17-25 overall
Bellarmine……………….8-16 ASUN…13-30 overall
North Alabama……….6-15 ASUN…7-38 overall

SOUTH
FGCU………………………12-6 ASUN…26-17 overall
North Florida……………11-7 ASUN…18-20 overall
Stetson……………………10-8 ASUN…24-20 overall
Jacksonville……………3-15 ASUN…10-30 overall