Liberty : 11-13

Home : 6-4

Away: 5-9

Q1: 2-9

Q2: 1-0

Q3: 0-0

Q4: 6-2

RPI : 74

SOS : 32

ASUN : 3-3

Liberty went 2-2 on their 4 game homestand in taking 2 of 3 from Austin Peay and losing the midweek re-match against Duke 7 to 3.  Friday night was all Liberty in a run rule 12 to 1 win behind yet another strong outing from ace Garrett Horn.  Saturday would see the Flames fall in a slow pitch softball slugfest type game 18 to 15 in one of the more frustrating losses of the season.  Liberty would open a big lead before falling behind and then pulling close again in the 8th.  Sunday was the best game of the series and saw the Flames fight back late to win on a walk off to take the series.  Liberty got out to an early lead on a Brayden Horton 2 out 2 run single.  But after the 3rd inning Liberty's offense went silent and Duke did just enough to win.  

Despite the Flames continued struggles they continue to sit at 64 in the RPI.  However, at some point the Flames are going to have to go on some kind of a streak to get back into legitimate at large contention or else they will have to rely on winning the ASUN tournament.  Liberty has struggled to put all 3 phases of the game together all year.  Horn has been the only consistent option in the rotation to give the Flames length.  Liberty desperately needs a couple guys to step up and give the Flames at least 2 to 3 reliable starters that can go 5 so that all the other pieces can figure out their best role.  Defensively, the outfield and catching spot continues to be solid but the infield defense has really let the Flames down thought it's improved a bit as of late.  They sit at .964 on the season and 16 errors between Foster, Lazarro & Keeter.  First base has also produced several errors and also seen some plays that normally are made missed.  Horton has been learning the position and has done an admirable job in such limited time at a new position.  He's up to .289 with a HR and 12 RBI in 38 at bats.  He appears to be a bright part of the Flames future.  Overall, offensively the lineup has exploded in a handful of games but the team BA still sits at just .239.  Liberty needs Hillier and Castillo to hit like they are capable of for the the lineup to reach their full potential.  One other bright spot has been Jaylen Guy.  He's hitting .277 with 10 RBI and 8 SB's in his best season as a Flame.  He's always been an elite defender and baserunner but the last 3 week's he's been one of the most consistent hitters Liberty has had.  Jake Lazzaro has also had a nice bounce back season and appears to be a solid .300 hitter for LU from the left hand side.   

The pitching staff has struggled to a 5.72 team ERA even with a sparking 1.65 ERA from Horn in just over 27 IP.  Hertzler has been solid all year for the Flames in relief as well but beyond that the stats get pretty ugly.  I still believe Liberty has a lot more talent on the mound they are showing so far but it's got to show up on the field.  On the bright side, Graham Edwards, Trey Carter and David Erickson all really took steps forward the past week.   Freshman Grubbs has looked fairly solid in a few outings this past week.  

Liberty will head to Lipscomb this weekend.  The Bison come in at 9 and 15 overall but 4 and 2 in the ASUN.  Lipscomb is at 163 in the RPI and has really struggled on the road to a 2 and 10 mark but they are a solid 7 and 4 at home.  They took 2 of 3 from Notre Dame early but they were swept by Auburn and Miss. State and lost to Tennessee and GT in the midweek so their record is skewed a bit.  In some ways they are eerily similar to Liberty with the difficulty of their schedule.  This is Liberty's first trip to Lipscomb so it will be an unfamiliar situation for the Flames.  Liberty desperately needs to win 2 of 3 this weekend but it won't be easy as you can tell in the stats.