Less than a month ago, Liberty’s baseball team was reeling. The Flames had dropped consecutive ASUN series and were tied for third place in the ASUN East Division, a full three games behind both FGCU and Kennesaw State. Since that time, Liberty has put it together and won 10 of 12 conference games, including a 5-1 mark against the Eagles and Owls.

The Flames took two of three games at Stetson over the weekend, and, with the help of KSU dropping two of three ASUN games, Liberty has pulled into a first place tie with the Owls with a 14-7 conference record. We now enter the stretch run with just three more ASUN series left before the postseason begins.

WEDNESDAY: NORTH CAROLINA 8, LIBERTY 1

In a rematch from a game earlier in the season when the Flames knocked off North Carolina, 1-0, in a meeting of top 15 teams, the Tar Heels got their revenge with an 8-1 win on Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. The loss snapped Liberty’s four-game winning streak.

The Tar Heels benefited from two Liberty errors in the second inning to build a 5-0 advantage. The Flames would come right back with a solo home run to right field by catcher Gray Betts, but that would be all the damage Liberty could muster on the day as the Flames were held to just four hits on the day. UNC would add two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth for the final margin.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 2, STETSON 1 (15 INNINGS)

Four Flames combined to strike out a program-record 24 on Friday night in a marathon game. Garrett Horn, Mason Fluharty, Cade Hungate, and Trey Carter combined to hold the Hatters in check and to set a new program record for strikeouts in a game. Horn allowed one unearned run and did not surrender a hit in seven innings before giving way to the bullpen.

Stetson pulled in front in the bottom of the first as their leadoff batter got hit by a pitch. He then stole second and Gray Betts’ throw went into the outfield, allowing the runner to advance to third. The Hatters would take the 1-0 lead on an RBI ground out. That score would remain until the top of the 8th when Brady Gulakowski smashed a ball over the right field wall to lead off the frame and tie things up, ultimately sending the game into extra innings.

Nathan Keeter opened the 15th inning with a double into the right-center field gap. He would advance to third on a Betts bunt. Aaron Anderson followed with a grounder in the hole between shortstop and third base to score Keeter for the lead. In the bottom of the inning, Carter quickly retired the first two batters before walking a Stetson hitter with two outs. He then got a bounce back grounder to himself and tossed to Logan Mathieu at first for the final out of the game and the victory.

SATURDAY: STETSON 5, LIBERTY 1

The Hatters jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and that would be all they would need as three Stetson pitchers held the Flames to just two hits in the contest. It marked the first time in 101 games that Liberty was held to two hits or less in a game. Liberty starter Dylan Cumming takes the loss. The right-hander allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings.

Held scoreless through the first five innings, Liberty threatened in the sixth. Drew Baughman was hit by a pitch and Nick Keeter walked to lead off the inning. Gray Betts followed with a single to load the bases. Stetson would get a double play by Aaron Anderson, which scored Baughman to make it 5-1. Derek Orndorff would then ground out to end the inning and the scoring threat.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 8, STETSON 0

After struggling to score just three runs on seven hits through the first 24 innings of the series in DeLand, Florida, the Flames finally saw their bats come to life on Sunday afternoon. Liberty would score one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth to seize control with a 6-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Joe Adametz had his best performance of the season. He pitched 8 scoreless innings while scattering 6 hits, striking out 7 and walking one.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: BRADY GULAKOWSKI

Brady Gulakowski continues to swing a hot bat, picking up his second straight player of the week nod. His lone hit on Friday night was a solo home run and enough to send the game into extra innings where the Flames would eventually win the game in 15. After taking the day off Saturday, Gulakowski had another strong day Sunday. He was 2 for 4 in the rubber match, with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: GARRETT HORN

The freshman continues to look like he can be the ace of the staff entering the stretch run. Horn pitched seven innings without allowing a hit while striking out 12 and walking 3. He allowed just one run, earned, that scored in the first inning.

ON TAP

Liberty will wrap up their five-game road swing on Tuesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons defeated Liberty, 13-6, in Lynchburg on March 22. Wake is currently 31-13 overall and 10-11 in ACC play. They stepped out of conference play over the weekend, sweeping a two-game double header on Saturday against Longwood.

The Flames will then return to ASUN play this weekend. Liberty will play host to Jacksonville for a three-game series beginning Friday at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Dolphins took two of three from the Flames in a series in early April in Jacksonville. JU is coming off a series win at home over FGCU where they won two out of three, including a walk-off, 10th inning win on Sunday.

ASUN STANDINGS

East
Liberty……………………….14-7, 28-14
Kennesaw State…………14-7, 26-18
FGCU…………………………12-9, 27-17
Jacksonville………………9-12, 22-18
North Florida……………..8-13, 18-26
Stetson……………………..6-15, 20-23

West
Eastern Kentucky………14-7, 29-15
Jacksonville State…….14-7, 21-21
Lipscomb………………….13-8, 26-18
Central Arkansas………13-8, 19-23
Bellarmine…………………7-14, 10-33
North Alabama………….2-19, 9-32