Liberty has pushed its series win streak to six straight after taking two of three at FGCU over the weekend. The Flames remain one week ahead of Kennesaw State atop the ASUN East Division entering the final week of the regular season. The Flames and Owls will meet in Lynchburg this weekend for a pivotal three-game series to conclude the regular season and determine who will finish the year in first place in the East entering next week’s ASUN Tournament.

WEDNESDAY: NO. 5 VIRGINIA TECH 2, LIBERTY 1

Liberty held the Hokies to their lowest scoring output of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Virginia Tech rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth with two outs to come from behind and beat the Flames in Blacksburg.

The Flames took advantage of a Virginia Tech error in the fourth to claim the early lead. Derek Orndorff reached on a throw error by the Hokies’ shortstop with two outs and advanced to second on the error. He would then score on a signel through the middle of the diamond by Three Hillier.

Coach Scott Jackson made it a bullpen day in Blacksburg, as starter Trey Gibson pitched two scoreless innings, followed by an inning from Cole Garrett, two innings from Max Alba, and 3.2 innings from Dylan Cumming. Liberty’s usual Saturday starter, Cumming made quick work of the Hokies in the sixth through eighth inning as the 1-0 lead held. Jackson turned to Cumming to try to seal the game in the ninth.

Cumming hit a batter with one out in the ninth, the runner moved into scoring position at second base on a passed ball with two outs. The Hokies then used a seeing-eye single through the right side of the infield to score the runner and tie the game. Jackson then turned to Cade Hungate to try to get the final out and move the game into extra innings. The first two batters Hungate faced singled and walked to load the bases. Virginia Tech then lifted a single into left field for the walk-off victory.

FRIDAY: FGCU 8, LIBERTY 7

For the second straight game, Liberty lost a game in dramatic fashion with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth. On Friday night in Fort Myers, it was the FGCU Eagles who broke a 7-7 tie in the home half of the final inning, handing Mason Fluharty the loss.

The scoring came in flurries in the early innings, with Liberty scoring three runs on three hits and two FGCU errors in the top of the first. FGCU immediately responded with four runs on three home runs in the bottom of the first off Liberty starter Trey Carter who filled in for the usual Friday night starter Garrett Horn who was suffering from shoulder soreness.

In the second, the Flames added a run to tie it and the Eagles blasted their fourth home run of the game, this one off Jeremy Beamon, to take a 6-4 lead after two. In the third, Liberty was able to load the bases but unable to bring a runner across home plate while FGCU tacked on another run to make it 7-4.

The score would stall there as both teams found some consistency on the mound. The Flames turned to Max Alba who kept Liberty within striking distance, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings to keep FGCU stuck on 7 into the ninth. Meanwhile, in the top of the seventh, after a couple of walks, Aaron Anderson plated one run with an RBI single and Stephen Hill knocked in another with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6. In the top of the eighth, Cam Foster sent a rocket over the left field wall to tie it at 7. The score remained that way until the bottom of the ninth when FGCU got to Fluharty to pick up the pivotal win.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 23, FGCU 3

Liberty posted season highs in home runs (6), hits (26), and runs (23) in an absolute slugfest by the visiting Flames over FGCU on Saturday afternoon. Cam Foster hit two home runs, while Gray Betts, Brady Gulakowski, Logan Mathieu, and Three Hillier also homered for the Flames.

Six Flames had three or more hits in the contest, led by Betts who had a career-high five and scored four times. Hillier and Foster added four hits apiece, career-highs for both. Hillier also had a game-high and career-high seven RBI, while Foster drove in a career-high five runs.

Joe Adametz allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out a career-high eight.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 8, FGCU 5

Liberty broke a 3-3 tie with five runs in the eighth inning to take down FGCU and win the three-game series, two games to one. Trey Gibson, who got the start, and Dylan Cumming combined to hold the potent Eagles’ offense to three runs over the first seven innings of the game.

In the top of the eighth, Logan Mathieu doubled, Cam Foster reached on a bunt base hit, and Gulakowski followed with a single to score Mathieu as the Flames took the lead. Nathan Keeter was hit by a pitch, Gray Betts hit a fly ball to score Foster to push the lead to 5-3. The next three Flames were hit by a pitch, forcing another run to the plate. Hillier capped the inning with a line drive to score two more for an 8-3 lead Liberty never relinquished.

Keeter mashed his first career home run in the second inning, a three-run shot as the Flames took the early lead for a third straight day against FGCU. The Eagles would fight back, as they did all weekend, to draw a tie before Liberty broke the tie in the eighth.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CAMERON FOSTER

The Liberty true freshman strung together hits in all three games at FGCU in Fort Myers, as he put together his best three-game stretch at the plate in a Liberty uniform. It started on Friday night when his solo home run in the top of the eighth tied the game at 7 before the Eagles got a walk off hit in the bottom of the ninth for the win. Foster’s hot bat continued Saturday, when he had a career day, as he batted 4 for 7 with 2 runs scored, 5 RBIs, and 2 more home runs. In Sunday’s series finale, Foster was 1 for 3 at the plate with 2 runs scored.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: MAX ALBA

While his two performances came in the two losses this week, Alba put together two of his best outings on the season. Against Virginia Tech, he tossed two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two. In Friday night against FGCU, Alba kept the Flames in the game into the late innings as he pitched 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing four hits and striking out six.

ON TAP

Liberty enters the final week of the regular season with its last four home games beginning on Tuesday night against High Point. The former Big South rival is 20-31 on the season and 11-10 in conference play. The Panthers are coming off a 16-1 loss to Campbell on Sunday, as they lost two of three to the Camels.

The Flames will wrap up the regular season with an all important series against Kennesaw State that begins Thursday evening and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday afternoon. Liberty enters the week with a one game lead over the Owls for first place in the ASUN East Division. The Flames defeated KSU in two out of three games in a series in Georgia earlier this season.

ASUN STANDINGS

East
Liberty……………………….18-9, 32-18
Kennesaw State…………17-10, 30-22
FGCU…………………………15-12, 31-20
Jacksonville………………12-14, 26-23
North Florida……………..10-16, 20-30
Stetson……………………..8-19, 23-28

West
Eastern Kentucky………18-9, 33-17
Lipscomb………………….17-10, 31-20
Central Arkansas………17-10, 23-26
Jacksonville State…….16-11, 23-27
Bellarmine…………………8-19, 11-39
North Alabama………….5-22, 12-37

ASUN TOURNAMENT IF SEASON ENDED TODAY

Pool A
1. Liberty
2. Eastern Kentucky
3. Kennesaw State
4. FGCU

The top 3 finishers in pool play would advance to semifinals.

Pool B
5. Jacksonville
6. Lipscomb
7. Stetson
8. Central Arkansas

Pool B winner will advance to semifinals.