As calendars turn towards the last half of the month of March, ASUN baseball teams are preparing to begin conference play this week. Liberty has sprinted out to a strong start and is ranked by all major national polls, backing up their preseason pick to finish first in the ASUN.

Last year, two teams advanced to a regional, as the Flames received an at-large, and Jacksonville earned the surprise automatic bid. The Dolphins were just 3-15 entering the ASUN Tournament last year, but they would win 5 out of 6 games in the tournament to claim the bid.

The Flames are looking to win the ASUN title for a second time, also accomplishing the feat in 2019. Liberty was an impressive 19-2 in conference play last year, finishing as the top team in the ASUN’s North Division. The Flames would advance to the Knoxville Regional final after defeating the ACC champs, Duke, twice where Liberty would fall to Tennessee.

The 2022 ASUN Baseball Championship will be played May 25-28 at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.

ASUN RPI RANKINGS*

18. Liberty
44. Kennesaw State
62. Jacksonville
96. Eastern Kentucky
154. North Florida
169. FGCU
176. Lipscomb
186. North Alabama
188. Stetson
190. Jacksonville State
220. Bellarmine
230. Central Arkansas

*as of 3/16/22

ASUN STANDINGS

East
Liberty……………………….12-3
FGCU…………………………13-4
Stetson……………………..12-5
Jacksonville………………11-5
Kennesaw State…………9-6
North Florida……………..6-11

West
Eastern Kentucky……….11-7
Lipscomb……………………10-7
North Alabama…………..5-10
Central Arkansas………..5-10
Jacksonville State………4-10
Bellarmine………………….2-15

THIS WEEKEND’S SCHEDULE*

Liberty @ North Florida
FGCU @ Stetson
Kennesaw State @ Jacksonville
Central Arkansas @ Bellarmine
Eastern Kentucky @ North Alabama
Jacksonville State @ Lipscomb

*All are three-game series, played Friday-Sunday

THE SLUGGERS

Liberty’s Derek Orndorff has not only taking the Mountain by storm but the entire country. He currently leads the ASUN in home runs (10), total bases (46), and slugging percentage (1.000). He also ranks in the top five in the conference in runs (21), RBI (20), and on base percentage (.559).

Orndorff’s outfield counterpart at Liberty, right fielder Aaron Anderson, provides a powerful tandem in the lineup. Anderson is currently batting .350 with 14 runs, 13 RBIs, 5 doubles and 4 home runs. His slugging percentage of .633 is sixth in the ASUN.

Entering conference play, Liberty and FGCU have the top six players in the conference in slugging percentage. In addition to Orndorff and Anderson, the Eagles have four of those guys in Brian Ellis, Luis Rodriguez, Alejandro Figueredo, and Joe Kinker. Ellis, Figueredo, and Rodriguez are currently the top three in the conference in batting average, from .410 to .393.

THE TOP ARMS

Liberty currently leads the league in team ERA with a mark of 2.71. The Flames have been led by a deep roster of talented arms, both starters and out of the pen.

Over 20 innings throw, Kennesaw State’s John Bezdicek has been one of the top arms early in the season. He is 3-1 with a 0.45 ERA and has struck out 30 opposing hitters.

Stetson starters Danny Garcia and Cole Stallings will be a tough 1-2 punch in conference play. The two have combined to throw 50 innings and have allowed just 12 runs between them. They also have a combined record of 5-1 across 8 starts so far this season.