The Liberty Flames dropped two of three games this weekend at home against Stetson, as well as falling at home to Wake Forest on Tuesday, as the Flames finished the week just 1-3. The Flames have dropped to 15-7 overall and 3-3 in ASUN play. Liberty was 11-1 after beating North Carolina on March 8 and have won just four out of their last 10 games since that point.

The Flames are also dealing with the injury bug now as both Gray Betts and Derek Orndorff are in the concussion protocol. Betts missed all three games this weekend against Stetson while Orndorff was hit in the head by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth on Friday night. After falling to the field at the plate for a few tense moments, the Liberty center fielder was helped to his feet and off the field. He would not play in either Saturday or Sunday’s game.

TUESDAY: WAKE FOREST 13, NO. 15 LIBERTY 6

One of the top offensive teams in the country, Wake Forest flexed their muscles against the Flames on Tuesday afternoon in Lynchburg. The visiting Demon Deacons collected 16 hits, a season-high for a Liberty opponent. In the bottom of the seventh, Liberty pushed across two runs, cutting its deficit to two at 6-4 with two outs. With runners on the corners, Brady Gulakowski walked to load the bases. Wake Forest went to its bullpen and was able to retire Derek Orndorff to prevent Liberty from pulling any closer on the scoreboard.

FRIDAY: NO. 15 LIBERTY 4, STETSON 3

Filling in for the injured Gray Betts at catcher, Three Hilliers’ two-out, ninth inning single propelled the Flames to a win Friday night at Liberty Baseball Stadium. After the Hatters scored two runs in the top of the ninth, the Flames put runners on the corners with two outs on a single by Gulakowski. Hillier followed by lining a pitch back through the middle of the field to score Aaron Anderson to give Liberty the victory. Cade Hungate picked up the win, he did allow two runs on three hits in the ninth as he blew his first save of the year.

SATURDAY: STETSON 5, NO. 15 LIBERTY 3

The visiting Hatters jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings of play and then held off the Flames for the victory. Liberty was 2 for 12 in the contest with runners in scoring position. After being turned away several times early in the game with runners in scoring position, Liberty was once again able to bring the winning run to the plate in the ninth with two outs. With Anderson aboard after being hit by a pitch, Cam Foster walked with two outs to put two men aboard. However, Hillier was unable to come through in the clutch for the second straight game. Garrett Horn struck out 10 batters in relief work for the Flames.

SUNDAY: STETSON 7, NO. 15 LIBERTY 1

Stetson pitcher Cole Stallings held Liberty scoreless over the first six innings, scattering three hits. The Hatters struck for three two-out runs in the third and added two more runs in the fourth to build a 5-0 advantage. The Flames dropped its first home series since May 2018 as Liberty sees their streak of 54 straight games at Liberty Baseball Stadium without dropping back to back games come to an end. This also marks the first time Liberty has dropped an ASUN series since 2019.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: THREE HILLIER

Hillier came through in the clutch, helping lift the Flames to their only win of the week with his two-out, walk-off single in the ninth on Friday night. Hillier has moved into the every day lineup recently, playing left field prior to Betts’ injury as he has now moved behind the plate. On Friday, Hillier was 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs. For the season, he is batting .268 with 8 runs, 3 doubles, 2 home runs, and 8 RBIs.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: GARRETT HORN

Entering the game in the third inning for starter Trey Gibson and the Flames trailing 4-0, freshman Garrett Horn did his job and kept Liberty within striking distance, holding the Hatters scoreless for five innings. Horn allowed just two hits while striking out 10 and allowing just one walk against the 18 batters he faced. On the season, Horn is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in 7 appearances while making one start. In 17.2 innings pitched, he has allowed 13 hits, 7 runs, only two of them earned, while striking out 31 and allowing four walks.

ON TAP

Liberty returns to action on Tuesday in Durham, North Carolina against the Duke Blue Devils with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm. It will be a rematch from last year’s showdown between the two programs in the Knoxville Regional. Liberty defeated Duke in the two games they played in Knoxville, to eliminate the ACC Champion Blue Devils. This season, Duke is currently 12-12 overall and 3-6 in conference play. They lost two of three games at Florida State this weekend, picking up an 11-2 win on Sunday.

The Flames will try to get back in the series win column this coming weekend, returning to Jacksonville where Liberty will take on the Jacksonville Dolphins. The three-game series is scheduled for Friday night at 7, Saturday night at 7, and Sunday at 1. The Dolphins are currently 12-10 overall and 1-5 in ASUN play. They drop two of three games at FGCU this past weekend.

ASUN STANDINGS

East
Kennesaw State…………6-0, 16-7
FGCU…………………………5-1, 18-6
Liberty……………………….3-3, 15-7
Stetson……………………..2-4, 14-9
Jacksonville………………1-5, 12-10
North Florida……………..1-5, 9-16

West
Jacksonville State…….6-0, 11-11
Eastern Kentucky………5-1, 17-8
Central Arkansas………4-2, 9-13
Lipscomb………………….1-5, 12-12
North Alabama………….1-5, 6-16
Bellarmine…………………1-5, 3-20