Liberty (37-12) exploded for 10 runs in the 7th inning to blow the game against Bellarmine (13-36) wide open as the Flames would go on to win, 12-6. With the win, Liberty advances to the Final Four of the ASUN Tournament beginning Thursday, May 27 on North Florida’s campus in Jacksonville, Florida.
The game was knotted at two from the second inning until the bottom of the seventh inning as the Knights looked to stave off elimination and force a do-or-die game three on Sunday. The Flames had other ideas as the North Division’s No. 1 seed exploded for 10 runs in the home half of the seventh to break the game open. In the decisive frame, Liberty had six walks, five hits, were hit by a pitch, and Bellarmine had one balk.
The ASUN Rookie of the Year Trey Gibson was slated to make the start on the mound for Liberty, but he was a late scratch as he was suffering from reported arm soreness. The Flames’ typical Saturday starter, Dylan Cumming, was handed the ball by Liberty head coach Scott Jackson. Cumming would allow two runs in the top of the first before settling in.
He retired 12 straight batters from the second through the fifth inning and did not allow another run until the eighth inning after the game was already in hand for the Flames. On the afternoon, Cumming finished the game with 7.2 innings pitched while allowing four hits and five runs to go along with four strikeouts as he picked up the win to improve to 4-1 on the season.
David Erickson would enter in relief of Cumming in the eighth inning with the bases loaded. He would allow one hit before getting out of the inning with a strikeout. The Knights would tack on another run in the ninth inning before Erickson closed the door.
Left fielder Aaron Anderson continued swinging the bat well. He was a perfect five for five at the plate Saturday with three RBIs, two runs, and a double. Anderson also had three hits in Friday’s win. Second baseman Will Wagner hit safely in three of his four at bats with one RBI and one run scored. Anderson and Wagner combined to bat 11-of-14 in the two games against Bellarmine this weekend to go along with five doubles, seven runs, and six RBIs.
In other action around the ASUN this weekend, the No. 2 seed in the South Division North Florida swept No. 3 seed in the South Stetson in two games. No. 2 seed in the North Division Kennesaw State swept No. 3 seed in the North Lipscomb in two games. No. 1 seed in the South FGCU and No. 4 seed in the South Jacksonville have split their two games and will meet in a decisive third game on Sunday.
The four remaining teams that advance from this weekend’s quarterfinal round will descend upon Jacksonville, Florida for a double-elimination tournament. If Jacksonville defeats FGCU on Sunday, the Flames will play the Dolphins on Thursday. If FGCU wins Sunday, Liberty will face North Florida.
