If you’re a rash person like myself, you went into premature panic mode three innings into Liberty’s baseball season when sophomore stud pitcher, Parker Bean, got off to a rather awful start, allowing 8 runs in his first three innings against Kennesaw State. Fortunately the Flames were able to regroup under relief pitchers and almost mount a comeback, ultimately losing the opener 11-9.
Though it’s nowhere near time for panic mode, the opening two weekends definitely served as a wake up call to many Flames fans who were used to Liberty’s dominance on the mound in 2014. The Flames are allowing more than five runs per game through their first six contests. Remember that it was not uncommon for last year’s staff to hold the opposition to 8-15 hits for an entire three game series. I’m not arguing that this team is doomed because the pitching isn’t completely dominant, in fact I believe this is a very competent pitching staff with plenty of young developing talent, but I do think the Flames may have to win in different ways this year. Batters simply may not be able to rely on the pitching staff to hold opposing teams to one or two runs on a regular basis, and that’s ok.
Here are the results from Liberty’s opening two weekends:
#19 Kennesaw State L 9-11
Georgia State W 10-7 (11 inn.)
Georgia State W 9-1
St. Johns L 1-4
UNC Greensboro L 5-6
East Carolina W 4-3
Storylines
- Shawn Clowers has been the key piece of the Liberty pitching staff thus far. Sporting an .84 ERA through 10.2 innings pitched, Clowers is leading the team, claiming two of Liberty’s three total wins. Opponents are batting an abysmal .125 off of him.
- Parker Bean is still shaking his offseason rust. The only returning weekend starter posted a 9.0 ERA through eight innings pitched. After the botched start against Kennesaw State, Bean then had a scare after a two run first inning against ECU. Parker was able to recover though, and went the next four innings without allowing a run.
- Ashton Perritt had a rare late game pitching breakdown against UNC Greensboro. With Liberty leading 5-1 in the 9th, Perritt gave up five runs in the final inning. His current ERA 15.19, but expect him to clean this up.
- Becker Sankey is a stud. (see Georgia State game 1)
- Andrew Yacyk already has two home runs, big surprise.
- Dalton Britt is having an interesting season. He currently leads all players who have played in every game in batting average (.348), but seems to have lost his form in the field. Usually an outstanding fielder, Britt has recorded four errors, and is posting a .818 fielding%.
With the 3-3 start to the season the Flames have dropped out of all top 25 polls after achieving the program’s first ever preseason rankings. It’s worth noting that the Flames were 3-3 at this point last year, and even fell to 3-5 before beginning their historic run, so I think its safe to say that it might be a couple more weeks before we truly get a feel for this team.
Now for pretty much the most prestigious weekly baseball award given to a collegiate player, which athletes all across the southern side of the Lynchburg metropolitan area dream of one day winning, your FlamesNation Player of the Week.
Becker Sankey
liberty.edu
Sankey exploded onto the scene with a three run homer to tie Georgia State in Liberty’s second game of the season. Sankey entered the game as a pinch hitter as the Flames were down 3-6 with two outs in the ninth. Sankey fell behind in the count, but one strike away from the game being over, Sankey ripped the home run that sent the matchup to extra innings. The Flames eventually won 10-7 in the 11th inning.
That’s not all though, Sankey (16 at-bats) has been the core of the Liberty offense thus far, leading all players with at least two at-bats in average (.500), slugging% (.938), and tied with Andrew Yacyk with two home runs.
Upcoming:
Feb 27 3:00 vs Bryant
Feb 28 2:00 vs Bryant
Feb 28 5:00 vs Bryant
Mar 01 1:00 vs Bryant
With the postponement of the ODU game, originally scheduled for tonight, Liberty’s next series of games will be played at home. Make sure to get out to Liberty Baseball Stadium out and support the Flames in their four game home opener series against Bryant!
