Liberty : 3-4
Home: 0-0
Away: 3-4
Q1: 0-3
Q2:
Q3:
Q4: 3-1
RPI : 75
SOS : 85

Liberty ended it's season opening 7 game road streak by winning 2 of 3 against Winthrop on the road.  It was a battle all weekend against the former Big South Foe.  Horn would go 5 innings with 4 strikeouts Friday to earn the win.  Willard looked sharp in 2 scoreless innings and Beamon made his season debut with a scoreless inning.  Cole Garrett continues to provide the Flames with some good situational pitching with that changeup as he recorded the final out.  Foster, Simmons & Lazzaro all had an RBI each.  Saturday was a 5 to 3 loss that saw Nick Moran toss 5 innings of 1 run ball.  Todd Hudson was the hard luck loser as the bullpen was unable to close the game out as the Flames had a 3 to 2 lead after 6.  The 3 errors really crippled the Flames and allowed for 2 unearned runs.  Liberty was held to just 3 hits, 2 of which were Troyer's.  Sunday was a battle as Tepper would go 4 innings and allow 2 runs,  1 earned.  It was back and forth all day until Will Stewart delivered the knockout blow via the 3 run homer in the 8th.  Cam Foster also hit his first homer of the year early that brought the Flames back from a 2 to 0 hole to tie it.  Gray Betts added his second homer of the year which was a solo in the 7th.  The defense made 5 errors which led to 4 total unearned runs on the day and made the 9th behind Hertzler a little more interesting that than it needed to be.  The Flames finish the 2 year series with the Eagles taking 5 of the 6 games in the matchups.  

Positives - The young pitchers on the staff continue to shine.  Hudson & Hertzler look primed for big time roles in the 23 campaign.  Nick Moran has a .90 ERA in 10 IP so far and Garrett Horn continues to look the part as he returns from injury.  15 pitchers have thrown for the Flames now this year and some of the key dependable guys haven't even got going yet like Trey Carter and David Erickson.  Winning on the road is tough.  I'm sure the Flames would have preferred to get at least 1 down in Mississippi but they have rebounded nicely despite not playing near their best ball yet.  It was great to see the Flames find a little power this week.  Betts homered twice and almost a third time, Lazarro had 1, Stewart had 1 and Foster smashed one today as well.  Guy, by mount swiped 5 bags this weekend and has 6 already on the young season.  Jaylen continues to be a plus defender and is a real weapon if he can get on base.  He's manufactured a run many times over the years by getting on any way possible and stealing a base or forcing a bad throw then being sac'd home.  

Negatives - The defense has been a staple of the Scott Jackson era.  This version of the Flames hasn't quite lived up to that billing just yet as they have a team .959 Fielding percentage through the first 6 games and they had 5 more errors today which aren't yet in the season stats yet.  The defensive woes have come almost exclusively in the infield including some errant throws from pitchers.  That's one area that I'm sure the staff will be working on incredibly hard over the next few weeks.  A return to the friendly confines where the players are most comfortable will surely help.  Winthrop doesn't have the greatest playing surface either. 

Still Figuring it out - The lineup is a work in progress but we found a few answers this weekend.  Jenner is the best defensive first base option the Flames have and he hit all fall and spring.  However, an early season slump opened the door for UNC utility man transfer Will Stewart to get at bats this weekend.  Stewart really struggled the first couple days as he hadn't seen much live action since before the season but he had a couple barrels Sunday including the 3 run shot that would lead the Flames to victory.  Regardless of who gets the most AB's at first it's good to see depth developing.  The Flames are still looking for someone to step up in the 2B battle.  Both Keeter & Simmons had some hits and showed some life this weekend but both have been prone to the K so far as well.  The Flames have enough talent there that somebody will get it going consistently here soon I believe.  

*Duke smashed Baylor in route to a 3 game sweep outscoring the Bears 52-7.  That could prove to be a very valuable road midweek win late in the season.
*Southern Miss stumbled and lost 2 of 3 to Illinois at home.  More concerning is the pitching staff that was able to shut down the Flames bats gave up 35 runs to the Illini.  

On Deck: Longwood 2-6
The Lancers are off to a tough start including being demolished by UVA in the midweek 26-2 last week.  If that's a preview of things to come it should be a great opportunity for the Flames to get the bats going early and often.  These kind of games, particularly at home are very important for the Flames to win.  This will be the Flames home season opener. 

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