The Liberty Flames will be looking to repeat as ASUN champions after head coach Scott Jackson and the Flames’ baseball team won the conference championship in 2019, the program’s first season in the conference. Liberty finished that season with a 43-21 overall record and 15-9 mark in ASUN play.
Advancing to the 2019 NCAA Regionals, Liberty made its 6th appearance in the Regionals, having done so previously in 1993, 1998, 2000, 2013, and 2014. In 2020, the Flames started the year 10-7 before the season came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Flames return seven of nine starters from last season, as shortstop Cam Locklear, outfielder/catcher Gray Betts, first baseman Logan Mathieu, catcher Brady Gulakowski, second baseman Will Wagner, center fielder Jaylen Guy, and left fielder Brandon Rohrer.
Liberty, the preseason favorite to win the ASUN in 2021 according to the league’s coaches, will be led by Locklear who returns for his super senior season after having his 2020 senior campaign ended prematurely. Locklear was named the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after finishing third in the league for assists in 2020 with 51 and sixth in on-base percentage at .466, and he is expected to begin the season as the team’s leadoff hitter. He recorded a .949 fielding percentage a year ago, committing just four errors as he started all 17 games and ranked second on the team with a .316 batting average to go along with three steals and a .430 slugging percentage.
Returning to the middle of the infield alongside Locklear will be Will Wagner who was limited to just 12 at-bats in 2020 due to a foot injury. Wagner is considered by many to be one of the top prospects in the ASUN for the 2021 MLB Draft.
First baseman Logan Mathieu returns to the lineup after missing last season due to a knee injury. In 2019, he led the Flames with 7 home runs and 52 RBI’s with a .410 slugging percentage and .378 on-base percentage. He added 13 doubles and 43 runs in the ASUN Championship season. A Preseason All-ASUN selection, Mathieu provides power in the heart of the order and should be Liberty’s most dangerous power hitter.
Third baseman Trey McDyre and catcher Brady Gulakowski round out the infield. Gulakowski had knee surgery in the summer, but is hopeful to be ready to start the season. Veteran Gray Betts and freshman Three Hillier will look to fill in for Gulakowski if he is not ready.
Center fielder Jaylen Guy anchors the outfield. He will be flanked by left fielder Brandon Rohrer and right fielder Jake Wilson. Rohrer drew 39 walks against 31 strikeouts in 2019 and provides a quality defensive outfielder on either corner. Wilson is a Bowling Green transfer who is a career. 302 hitter in 510 career at-bats, as well as being an exceptional defender.
Other names to watch in the field include Aaron Anderson, Trey Carter, Cade Hungate, and Ethan McCormick. Anderson, a grad transfer from Division II Flagler, will get some playing time as the Flames’ DH. A switch-hitter, Anderson was a three-year starter and a career .342 hitter at Flagler and could also see playing time at a corner spot.
Former Florida State commit Trey Carter chose Liberty late in the recruiting class. Carter is a right handed pitcher and could also factor into the outfield mix. Hungate is a Florida State transfer and another two-way talent. He could see time out of the bullpen or in the infield. McCormick is a freshman middle infielder to keep an eye on this spring.
On the mound, Liberty must find a replacement for Joe Adametz who will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery. He posted a 1.59 ERA last year in 22.2 innings pitched while making four starts.
Lefty Mason Meyer returns for his junior season after posting a 3.38 ERA last year with 20 strikeouts in 21.1 innings over four starts with one win. He began his career as the Flames’ midweek starter and helped Liberty go 7-3 against ACC opponents during the regular season and helping the team to a win over Tennessee in the regional opener.
True freshman Trey Gibson has turned heads since arriving on campus and has worked his way into a weekend starter spot. The 6’5″, 230 pound righty was one of the top ranked arms in Virginia last spring.
Another transfer, Trevor DeLaite, a left-hander from Maine is expected to make his debut as part of Liberty’s weekend rotation. In 2019, DeLaite had a 2.12 ERA at Maine with 41 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 34 innings of relief.
Junior Landon Riley will look to anchor the Flames’ bullpen as the team’s closer. He was 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 12.1 innings and 7 appearances in 2020. In 2019, Riley posted a 2-0 record with a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings in 22 relief appearances.
Mason Fluharty and Dylan Cumming will also look to find key roles on the staff. Fluharty made his collegiate debut in 2020 making six relief appearances and finishing with a 5.14 ERA in seven innings pitched. Chicago State transfer Dylan Cumming made 39 appearances and 20 starts over the past three seasons at Chicago State. He posted a 6.29 ERA in 157.1 innings with 141 strikeouts and 91 walks.
Mason Hand is in his fourth season with the program but is only a redshirt-sophomore. He missed the 2019 season after Tommy John surgery and was 3-1 in 2020 with a 2.18 ERA while making five appearances and four starts with 20.2 innings pitched.
Liberty is scheduled to begin the season Feb. 19-21 with a three game series at Campbell. The home opener is on Wednesday, Feb. 24 against North Carolina A&T. The Flames will open ASUN play at home March 12-14 against North Alabama.
PROJECTED WEEKEND ROTATION
Friday: LHP Mason Meyer
Saturday: RHP Trey Gibson
Sunday: LHP Trevor DeLaite
PROJECTED OPENING DAY STARTING LINEUP
C Brady Gulakowski
1B Logan Mathieu
2B Will Wagner
SS Cam Locklear
3B Trey McDyre
LF Brandon Rohrer
CF Jaylen Guy
RF Jake Wilson
DH Aaron Anderson
