Record : 37-20
ASUN : 19-11
Tournament : 4-0
RPI : 32
Head to head vs KSU : 4-3
Championship Saturday is here and our Liberty Flames are here once again. The offense has smashed it's way to the title game putting up 44 runs along the way on 4 different pitching staffs. Based on how the matchups have went so far this year and the fact we are the end of a 5 game run in as many days I would expect some offensive fireworks again today. This time of year things are kept very close to the vest but I would fully expect Trey Gibson to get the ball for the Flames. Liberty also still has Trey Carter, Ty Germanowski & Cade Hungate completely fresh for multi innings stints. Further, I would expect Beamon & Erickson to be available today as well as Fluharty and Cumming for limited action based on tournament usage. KSU comes into the game at #48 in the RPI and a 2 and 2 record in the Tournament including a 12 to 6 loss to Liberty in the 2nd game of pool play. They also lost to Lipscomb 12 to 10 in game 1. They eliminated FGCU 7 to 6 in final game of pool play and eliminated Lipscomb 6 to 4. KSU is most likely playing for the right to keep playing. They don't find themselves in any post season prognostications that I have seen. Further, Grand Canyon lost last night and they will likely be in as an at large which takes a bubble spot away.
Note: here is how KSU pitching lined up against LU in Lynchburg
Game 1: Myers started and went 6 2/3 innings and Pinson finished the last 2 1/3. Bezdicek started Game 2 and went 5 innings before Torbert and Rine went 2 each to finish. Sunday saw Eidson start and then Housley Stills Riggins Holler Cain Naturman and Johnson.
Here is a look at KSU pitching usage so far:
Myers: (Friday night starter against LU in Lynchburg : 3 1/3 in Game 1, 2 1/3 in Game 3
Rine : 3 in Game 1
Pinson (Closer & best reliever): 2 1/3 in Game 1
Torbert : 1 2/3, 44 pitches and 4 innings yesterday in Game 4. (He's likely out, if he's available it won't be for long.
Rine: 3 IP in Game 1.
Housley : 2/3 Inning in Game 2.
Johnson : 6 1/3 (He should be out) in game 3.
Cain : 1 inning in Game 3
Stills : 5 innings (Game 4, 84 pitches he's likely out)
Bezdick : 4 2/3 Innings in Game 2 start.
Usage wise Myers & Bezdicek are there 2 best starters as both have ERA's just under 4 and threw 81 and 70 innings respectively. Pinson has thrown 64 innings and has a 4.22 ERA. They have just 4 guys with ERA's under 5.31. It's hard to see Bezdick and Myers doing much today with their usage but it is do or die for the Owls so you never know. Pinson hasn't pitched since Game 1 so I would certainly expect to see him today for at least a couple innings possibly even the starter. Rine has pitched twice in the tournament but 3 innings in Game 1 and just 1/3 against FGCU in Game 3. I would expect him to be available for a few innings. Brayden has a 6.75 ERA and started the third game in Lynchburg and was lit up by the Flames so not sure if they would use him. Beyond that, the rest of the ERA's are super ugly so it's hard to glean much from who they might use.
Bottom line is KSU can swing the bats with anybody in the country but their staff can give it right back up. Liberty has been on fire all tournament and I wouldn't expect that to cool off today. Sitting at #32 the Flames probably feel pretty good about an large but you have to leave anything up to the committee. I think Liberty is probably pretty firm on the 3 seed line even if they get the win today but there's a possibility they could squeak in on the back end of the 2 seed line though that may not be best thing. Many folks wanted to see Lipscomb today because it was an easier opponent. I tend to go the other way. Last weekend Liberty lost 2 of 3 at home to KSU and the RPI barely moved. So a loss today is unlikely to impact RPI much if at all. Plus, I think Liberty is a much deeper more well rounded team and often you see teams with pitching as thin as KSU completely falter deep in these type of formats. The key for me is for the Flames to play good defense. KSU is going to hit the ball but if we make the routine plays we can limit that damage. Liberty has been very difficult to beat when they play good defense, especially the way they have swung the bats the last couple weeks.
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