This weekend, Liberty is in Richmond, Kentucky for the team’s final road series of the regular season, taking on Eastern Kentucky in a pivotal ASUN series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Friday, 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Liberty is currently 22-26 on the season and 12-12 in the ASUN. The Flames are in a three-way tie for 8th place in the conference as the top 8 teams qualify for the conference tournament. EKU is currently 26-24 on the year with a 13-11 mark in ASUN play and part of a three-way tie for 5th place.
This weekend’s series will go a long way in determining how the Flames and Colonels stand entering the final week of the regular season. EKU is one of the hottest teams in the conference as they have won seven straight including a three-game sweep over Queens last weekend. The Colonels are 9-3 in their last 12 ASUN games. Liberty will be looking to win a fifth out of six ASUN series this weekend against the Colonels.
Liberty is 2-1 all-time against Eastern Kentucky. The two teams played last year in the ASUN Tournament Semifinals, with the Flames picking up an 18-9 win to advance to the ASUN championship game.
On Wednesday, in the final midweek contest of the regular season, Liberty lost to Virginia Tech, 14-1, in seven innings. The Hokies never trailed in the game after they took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Brayden Horton hit his fifth home run of the year to account for the Flames’ only run.
The Flames currently have an RPI of 69, the second best of all ASUN members just behind FGCU at No. 58. Liberty and the Eagles are the only ASUN member currently ranked in the top 100 of the RPI. Despite the losing overall record, it is Liberty’s tough schedule that has kept the RPI pretty high. The team’s current strength of schedule is ranked No. 27 while the non-conference strength of schedule is No. 1.
The Flames are currently in a three-way tie for 8th place in the 14-member ASUN. Only the top 8 teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the ASUN Tournament. With just two conference series remaining, including this weekend’s games, Liberty must have a strong finish to its regular season to advance to the conference tournament.
