Liberty baseball begins the 2022 season this weekend with a three-game series at Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and the Flames have their weekend starting rotation set.
Jackson will hand the ball to lefty Joe Adametz on Friday. Returning from Tommy John surgery, Adametz missed the 2021 season. In his true freshman campaign in 2019, he made 16 appearances with 15 starts, and posted a 7-2 record with a 4.04 ERA over 78 innings. He struck out 56 batters and walked 27 as he was named to the ASUN All-Freshman team after tying for third in the conference in wins. In the shortened 2020 campaign, Adametz posted a 1-1 mark with a 1.59 ERA over 22 2/3 innings in four starts. He struck out 21 and walked four.
On Saturday, Trey Gibson will get the start. The ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Gibson posted a 7-4 record with a 3.32 ERA over 65 innings during his first year in the program last year. He struck out 70 and walked 21. Gibson pitched five or more innings in eight of 13 starts. The right-hander pitched his first career complete game in a 4-1 victory over Kennesaw State on May 9. He was named the 2021 ASUN Freshman of the Year, a Freshman All-American, and second team all-ASUN following his first year at the collegiate level.
Max Alba will get the start on Sunday. Alba is a North Carolina transfer who is in his first season at Liberty after spending three years with the Tar Heels. He appeared in 17 games with 11 starts, posting a 3-4 record over 42 2/3 innings during his time in Chapel Hill. The junior right-hander is originally from Franklin, Wisconsin where he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 39th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He was ranked the No. 1 right-hander and No. 5 player in the state of Wisconsin in the class of 2018, as he posted a 1.00 ERA with a WHIP of 0.67.
The Flames will open the season with a tough challenge this weekend against No. 9 Florida. The Gators are hoping to get back to the College World Series after entering the 2021 season as preseason No. 1 team in the country but failing to live up to those expectations.
Florida is led by sophomore ace Hunter Barco. The 6’4″ southpaw enters the season ranked as one of the top prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft. In 2021, he posted a 4.01 ERA while registering 94 strikeouts in 83 innings across 16 starts. Brandon Sproat is expected to take the mound as a starter this weekend for the Gators, as well. He is also one of the top prospects for the 2022 MLB Draft. The 6’3″ righty posted a 6.65 ERA and walked 15 batters in 21.2 innings over 16 appearances.
It all begins Friday at 7 pm in Gainesville at Florida Ballpark, followed by Saturday’s afternoon 4 pm start, and Sunday’s series finale at noon. All three games can be streamed on SEC Network+.
