Liberty (37-21) saw their perfect week in Fort Myers and ASUN Conference championship aspirations fall on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Kennesaw State Owls, 10-6, in the winner-take-all title game. With the loss, KSU earns the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. Meanwhile, the Flames will have to wait for Monday’s selection show to see if they are chosen as an at-large team for a second straight year.
Preseason ASUN Pitcher of the Year Trey Gibson was called on by head coach Scott Jackson to take the mound to begin the game Saturday. Gibson, who hadn’t pitched all week during the ASUN Tournament, struggled to open the game, as the Owls loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first. Kennesaw State would go on to score two in the frame to take the early lead.
KSU added a run in the third and two in the fourth to take a commanding 5-0 lead and chase Gibson from the game. The sophomore right-hander pitched 3.1 innings while allowing five runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three.
To win the championship, the Flames would have to come from behind for a third time this week in Fort Myers. Liberty had their opportunities, as Logan Mathieu singled and Cam Foster sent a two-run home run over the fence in right-center to cut the gap to 5-2 and get into the KSU bullpen. Gray Betts would then blast a solo home run to bring the Flames within two at 5-3 at the end of the fifth.
Dylan Cumming, who entered the game in the fourth in relief of Gibson, held the potent Kennesaw State offense in check in the middle innings, giving the Liberty bats a chance. Entering the bottom of the sixth still trailing by the same 5-3 margin, the Flames were able to load the bases with one out, but Foster and Brady Gulakowski were unable to come through in the clutch, both striking out to end the threat.
The Owls would take advantage, riding that momentum to score three in the seventh, one in the eighth, and one in the ninth to stake a commanding 10-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth. The Flames would add three runs before being eliminated, highlighted by a two-run Aaron Anderson home run.
Liberty finishes the week 4-1 in the ASUN Tournament after emerging from Pool A as the victor with a perfect 3-0 mark. The Flames then defeated Pool B winner Eastern Kentucky on Friday in the semifinals to advance to Saturday’s championship game. The team’s RPI rose several spots during the week, entering the title bout at 32, giving the Flames a realistic shot at an at large invitation to the 2022 NCAA Tournament for a second straight year.
The entire field for the 2022 NCAA Tournament will be unveiled on Monday, May 30 at noon eastern on ESPN 2. Be sure to check our recent article on how Liberty compares to other teams on the bubble entering the week.
