Liberty : 24 - 12
ASUN : 10-6
RPI : 40
Liberty won a thriller over Duke 3 to 2 in the midweek on Aaron Anderson's walkoff hit. Logan Mathieu had a laser in the 8th that tied it at 2. Liberty got outstanding pitching from Trey Gibson, Jeremy Beamon & Trey Carter to limit the Blue Devils to just 2 hits and 2 earned runs to go along with 3 walks. This was a really big midweek win simply because the remaining midweek games are mostly on the road and against very difficult opponents (UNC, Wake & VT, home vs HPU). Liberty came into the weekend feeling good about themselves and absolutely smashed North Florida 22-4 behind 3 Brady Gulakowski dingers and 4 hits and 8 total RBI including a 479 foot tank shot that landed deep into the parking lot. Garrett Horn went 6 innings and gave up 3 runs for yet another strong start to get the win. The Flames used Wilson, Alba & Nick Moran who made his collegiate debut in the 9th while giving up 1 run. North Florida came in riding high after taking 2 of 3 from FGCU last week as well. Stephen Hill "the osprey killer" added 2 more hits and 4 RBI as well. Orndorff and Anderson each had 3 hits and 3 and 5 RBI between the 2 of them as well. Everyone in the lineup recorded a hit for the first time all year.
Despite smashing the #129 Ospreys the Flames dropped 5 spots in the RPI to #40. Liberty really needs to win all 3 this weekend to hang in that 40-45 area. Home games vs opponents outside the top 100 are virtually must win for the Flames to keep up the pursuit of the 2 seed line and possibly even the 3 seed line. High Point is sitting at #245 right now and will be a must win midweek at the end of the year. Right now Jacksonville is sitting right around #100 so that will be another interesting one to watch. It would be great if they could hover around 90. Liberty has struggled mightily on the road against the Dolphins. I'm looking forward to getting them here in Lynchburg in the friendly confines. Stetson & FGCU are both on the road so potential losses there won't hurt as bad and KSU is still hovering around #20 for the final home series of the year.
Nuggets & Takeaways
*Gulakowski's spot in the lineup accounted for 5 total hits (Hurtzler PH single) 3 homers and 8 RBI's - what a night
*every hitter in the lineup recorded a hit for the first time all year.
*team batting average has jumped back up to .271 after taking a dip.
*team ERA is sitting at 3.68 which has tightened back up as well
*The lineup looks totally different with Betts setting the table, Anderson red hot, Orndorff has produced all year and now Gulakowski appears to be heating up. At the bottom Mathieu and Keeter have lengthened the lineup. Hill and Foster have been steadying forces.
Who's hot
-Suddenly Gulakowski went from .230 to .250 and now has 9 homers and a team leading 40 RBI. When hot, Gulakowski has the type of bat that can carry the team like Orndorff did the first couple weeks. Those 2 can carry a team when hot.
-Mathieu, it up to .241 roughly 1 month ago he was hitting .104 and mirred in a huge slump. He and Joe Adametz to me remain the key to how far the Flames go. If those guys produce like they can this rotation and lineup is so much deeper.
-Anderson has been red hot as well the last 10 games or so and is the guy the Flames want at the plate in any key situation when you need a hit.
CUSA Update
I tweeted about it a month ago or so the first time I heard it but CUSA adding Dallas Baptist is just massive on so many levels. They are a powerhouse program that sits at #4 in the RPI with a 23-14 record while playing in the Missiouri Valley conference. They have had a lot of success in recent years including in the postseason. This year they swept future conference mate SHSU in a 3 game set and swept then #6 Southern Miss in a weekend series and took 2 of 3 from ranked Maryland. They also beat CUSA power La Tech in a midweek matchup. They also took down #20 TCU in a midweek last week. They have a number of close losses to ranked Texas Tech and Oklahoma as well. This gives the new CUSA 3 legitimate top 50 programs in Liberty, DBU & La Tech. I continue to hope CUSA goes after Kennesaw State as a full member as well. It's obvious what they offer in baseball but basketball has been steadily improving and football has shown a lot of promise in a short time. They are in a fertile recruiting area in the outskirts of Atlanta. They certainly need better facilities but they would be a great east coast add (Liberty needs some teams closer to VA) with a ton of upside. Don't look now but Storm Toman has the MTSU Blue Raiders at #51 in the RPI even though the record is just 20 and 16. That program has potential to be a top 50 program as well.
Overall here is a look at future CUSA current RPI #'s
Liberty #40, DBU #4, La Tech #49, SHSU #133, MTSU #52, JSU #172, FIU #210, WKU #222, NMSU #259
*Average CUSA RPI #126
*Current ASU RPI #140
If Kennesaw State changed sides it bumps CUSA to #116 and the ASUN to the #155 range.
The thought of Worthington stadium hosting a late season top 25 matchup between the Flames and La Tech or DBU is fascinating. Liberty has had plenty of P5 and top 25 programs show up to Lynchburg in the midweek but the weekend has been a different story. It will be an opportunity to grow the program to new heights.
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