Liberty head coach Jonn Freitas doesn't like to overwork pitchers. He's careful of that from staff ace to the last guy in the bullpen.

On Thursday Freitas opted for senior Drew Hasquet, who hadn't seen much work in the tournament put when he had offered results. Hasquet gave his coach a winning effort with five solid innings that paved the way to No. 3 Liberty's 2-1 triumph over defending Division I champ and top-seed Hamilton at Diablo Stadium.

Liberty (29-5) gets to play at least one more game as a result of Thursday's outcome. The Lions take on Mountain Ridge on Saturday (May 16) at 6:30 p.m. at Diablo Stadium. The winner of that advances to Tuesday (May 19) title game against Mesquite at Diablo. Hamilton, posting one of the best regular-season marks in recent history in D-I, closed out the season 31-4.

Hasquet, who had thrown 1 1/3 innings in the tournament prior to Thursday, gave up five hits, did not walk a batter and fanned four. The only run allowed was a long home run to left-center by Hamilton catcher Logan Boyer with two outs in the fourth. Boyer finished with three of Hamilton's six hits.

Hasquet's decision was his second win of the tourney on Thursday. His first came May 7 in an extra-inning win over Valley Vista in which he threw one inning. Hasquet got the final out Wednesday to pick up a four-pitch save against Corona del Sol.

"Drew gave us five great innings," Freitas said. "I didn't know who we were going to throw at 12:30 (p.m.) today. "He was outstanding spotting the ball."

Liberty scored its runs in the top of the  first. Pederson plunked leadoff hitter Rudy Karre with a pitch. Kyler Murphy sacrificed Karre to second. Tyler Wyatt, the Lions' staff ace and shortstop, drilled a liner off Pederson's foot that caromed into left field, scoring Karre. Wyatt scored an out later on a ground ball by Grant Lung.

Hamilton standout Zach Pederson gave his usual effort in tring to earn another game for Hamilton. Pederson, in his third varsity season,proceeded to retire 18 of the next 21 hitters and only two hits the final six innings. Pederson took the loss and suffered his first varsity defeat in a brilliant career. His career record for the Huskies is 21-1.

Hamilton had threats in the sixth and seventh. Dylan Enwiller led off the sixth with a single that ended the day for Hasquet. Wyatt came on and retired the next three hitters -- two via Ks.

Boyer led off the last of the seventh with a single off Wyatt. After a fly out by Cole Bellinger, Wyatt struck out Ricky Ramsdell and Jason Reynolds. -- Reynolds with the tying run at second -- to end the game.

"This game can rip your heart out sometimes," Hamilton coach Mike Woods said. "Have to tip your hat to Liberty....

" Our guys are pretty heartbroken right now. It's been a great season. They won 22 games in a row, and played and beat a  lot of good teams."