Liberty picked up a much needed series win against Jacksonville State in dramatic fashion as the Flames improved to 22-25 overall and 12-12 in ASUN play. The weekend set of games featured two Liberty run-rule games, including an 11-run inning on Sunday as the Flames overcame an 8-2 deficit to clinch the series.
Friday: Jacksonville State 11, Liberty 4
Jacksonville State used two big innings early in the game to build a 10-1 lead and cruise to an easy win over the Flames on Friday night to begin the three-game series at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
The Gamecocks scored four runs in the top of the first and added five runs in the fourth as they lead by the commanding 9 runs after six innings. Liberty scored a single run in each of the least three innings to help the score get to a final of 11-4.
Saturday: Liberty 13, Jacksonville State 3 (7 innings)
Liberty scored in every inning to pick up an easy win on Saturday, 13-3, to even the weekend series. Trey Cooper held the Gamecocks scoreless through five innings as Liberty build a 10-0 lead. Todd Hudson had two hits and his first collegiate home run and drove in three runs for the Flames in his first career start, coming at designated hitter. Brayden Horton had two hits and scored a career-high four runs, while Three Hillier hit his fourth home run of the season.
Sunday: Liberty 18, Jacksonville State 8 (8 innings)
Liberty once again fell behind by a large margin in the rubber match of the series on Sunday afternoon. Jacksonville State took an 8-2 lead before the Flames exploded with an 11-run 6th inning to take a 13-8 lead, eventually leading to a second straight run-rule victory.
Brayden Horton had the big hit, a grand slam that put the Flames ahead 12-8. That came after Liberty had already scored 6 runs in the inning to tie the contest.
Up Next: The Flames will play their final midweek game of the season on Wednesday against Virginia Tech in Lynchburg with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Liberty will be looking for the season sweep over the Hokies after winning in the teams’ first meeting, 7-3, on April 11 in Blacksburg. This coming weekend, Liberty will play a very pivotal ASUN series at Eastern Kentucky.
Current ASUN Standings
FGCU 18-6
Lipscomb 18-6
Stetson 16-8
Jacksonville State 15-9
Austin Peay 13-11
Eastern Kentucky 13-11
Jacksonville 13-11
Kennesaw State 12-12
Liberty 12-12
Central Arkansas 12-12
North Florida 11-13
Bellarmine 6-18
Queens 6-18
North Alabama 3-21
The top eight teams will advance to the ASUN Tournament. Liberty is currently in a three-way tie for the coveted 8th place. The team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season will be the 1-seed in the ASUN Tournament while seeds 2-8 will be determined by RPI of the remaining teams that qualify for the tournament.
