Friday, February 6
Palm Springs, Calif.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
0-2
1
vs
15
California
2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 2 |
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Lady Flames Fall to No. 17 Cal
2/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
After a scoreless first inning, No. 17 California broke away in the top of the second, scoring six runs on four hits en route to a 15-1 decision over the Lady Flames, Friday afternoon in Liberty's second game of the Cathedral City Kick Off.
With the loss, the Lady Flames dropped to 0-2 on the day and 0-2 on the season. The Golden Bears, who routed No. 13 Houston, 10-2, earlier in the day, improve to 2-0.
Tiffani Smith was the starting pitcher for Liberty, and struck out Cal pitcher and leadoff batter Valerie Arioto in the top of the first. Smith gave up a hit when Shannon Thomas singled to third.
After a fielder's choice play, designated player Gina Leomiti struck out looking to end the half-inning.
Liberty leadoff batter Cassie Hendrix kicked off the offense for the Lady Flames by garnering a walk. Danielle Howard then flied out to center field. Hendrix stole second base before Kelly Strickland grounded out to third, followed by a Beth Bennett walk. But Liberty could not capitalize, leaving two on base when J'nae Jefferson struck out looking.
Cal's bats exploded in the top of the second inning and the Golden Bears were able to take a 6-0 lead. Sanoe Kekahuna singled up the middle after a Vernae Sevilla walk, then Frani Echavarria reached on a bunt to advance the runners. With the bases loaded, Taylor Kelly was safe at first due to a Bennett fielding error, putting the Golden Bears on the board as Sevilla scored.
Arioto continued the hitting streak for Cal with a single to left field for a RBI. After Thomas flied out to right field, Jamie Reid belted a three-run homer to extend the Golden Bears' lead to six.
Keely McMillon led off the bottom of the second inning for the Lady Flames with a single down the left field line, and was then replaced by pinch runner Meredith Baisden. Ashley Bensinger slapped a sac bunt to the pitcher to advance Baisden to second. Baisden advanced again when Kaylee West grounded out to first, and Amber DePasquale reached first on a fielding error by Cal's third baseman Sevilla, allowing Liberty to score its first and only run of the day. Next, Hendrix struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Golden Bears were able to add three more runs in the top of the third with a Sevilla home run, two hits and a Lady Flames fielding error at shortstop.
Howard popped up to second for the first out in the bottom of the third, followed by a strikeout by Strickland. Bennett reached on a fielding error by shortstop Nikki Schrey, and Jefferson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Cal extended its lead to 14, pushing the score to 15-1, in the fourth inning with four hits and an additional Liberty error. Liberty freshman Allyson Hudson relieved Smith in the circle after Leomiti doubled to center field for a RBI and Shannon Houston walked.
Freshman Jenny Law led off for the Lady Flames in the bottom of the fourth as a pinch hitter for Basiden, grounding out to short. After Bensinger struck out swinging, Kaylee West got her first collegiate hit on a single up the middle. DePasquale then struck out looking to end the inning.
The Liberty defense came together in the top of the fifth with a three-up, three-down half-inning, and Hudson earned her first collegiate strikeout by fanning Sati Houston.
In the bottom of the fifth, Liberty had a final shot to come within eight runs of the Golden Bears to stay in the game. Hendrix struck out swinging, and Howard reached after being hit by a pitch.
Freshman Bridgett Woods, who entered the game at shortstop in the top of the fifth, walked. After Bennett flied out to center field, Jefferson singled to third to load the bases. With two outs, Law struck out swinging to end the game.
Arioto (1-0) earned the complete-game win for the Golden Bears, giving up three hits. Smith took the loss after three innings of work, allowing 10 hits.
Offensively, the Golden Bears were paced by Reid, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Echavarria, who was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
McMillon and West were Liberty's offensive leaders, batting 1-for-1 and 1-for-2, respectively.
The Lady Flames are back in action tomorrow in the Cathedral City Kick Off. First, Liberty will face No. 12 Fresno State at 3 p.m. local time, followed by a matchup against UC Riverside at 8 p.m.
With the loss, the Lady Flames dropped to 0-2 on the day and 0-2 on the season. The Golden Bears, who routed No. 13 Houston, 10-2, earlier in the day, improve to 2-0.
Tiffani Smith was the starting pitcher for Liberty, and struck out Cal pitcher and leadoff batter Valerie Arioto in the top of the first. Smith gave up a hit when Shannon Thomas singled to third.
After a fielder's choice play, designated player Gina Leomiti struck out looking to end the half-inning.
Liberty leadoff batter Cassie Hendrix kicked off the offense for the Lady Flames by garnering a walk. Danielle Howard then flied out to center field. Hendrix stole second base before Kelly Strickland grounded out to third, followed by a Beth Bennett walk. But Liberty could not capitalize, leaving two on base when J'nae Jefferson struck out looking.
Cal's bats exploded in the top of the second inning and the Golden Bears were able to take a 6-0 lead. Sanoe Kekahuna singled up the middle after a Vernae Sevilla walk, then Frani Echavarria reached on a bunt to advance the runners. With the bases loaded, Taylor Kelly was safe at first due to a Bennett fielding error, putting the Golden Bears on the board as Sevilla scored.
Arioto continued the hitting streak for Cal with a single to left field for a RBI. After Thomas flied out to right field, Jamie Reid belted a three-run homer to extend the Golden Bears' lead to six.
Keely McMillon led off the bottom of the second inning for the Lady Flames with a single down the left field line, and was then replaced by pinch runner Meredith Baisden. Ashley Bensinger slapped a sac bunt to the pitcher to advance Baisden to second. Baisden advanced again when Kaylee West grounded out to first, and Amber DePasquale reached first on a fielding error by Cal's third baseman Sevilla, allowing Liberty to score its first and only run of the day. Next, Hendrix struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Golden Bears were able to add three more runs in the top of the third with a Sevilla home run, two hits and a Lady Flames fielding error at shortstop.
Howard popped up to second for the first out in the bottom of the third, followed by a strikeout by Strickland. Bennett reached on a fielding error by shortstop Nikki Schrey, and Jefferson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Cal extended its lead to 14, pushing the score to 15-1, in the fourth inning with four hits and an additional Liberty error. Liberty freshman Allyson Hudson relieved Smith in the circle after Leomiti doubled to center field for a RBI and Shannon Houston walked.
Freshman Jenny Law led off for the Lady Flames in the bottom of the fourth as a pinch hitter for Basiden, grounding out to short. After Bensinger struck out swinging, Kaylee West got her first collegiate hit on a single up the middle. DePasquale then struck out looking to end the inning.
The Liberty defense came together in the top of the fifth with a three-up, three-down half-inning, and Hudson earned her first collegiate strikeout by fanning Sati Houston.
In the bottom of the fifth, Liberty had a final shot to come within eight runs of the Golden Bears to stay in the game. Hendrix struck out swinging, and Howard reached after being hit by a pitch.
Freshman Bridgett Woods, who entered the game at shortstop in the top of the fifth, walked. After Bennett flied out to center field, Jefferson singled to third to load the bases. With two outs, Law struck out swinging to end the game.
Arioto (1-0) earned the complete-game win for the Golden Bears, giving up three hits. Smith took the loss after three innings of work, allowing 10 hits.
Offensively, the Golden Bears were paced by Reid, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Echavarria, who was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.
McMillon and West were Liberty's offensive leaders, batting 1-for-1 and 1-for-2, respectively.
The Lady Flames are back in action tomorrow in the Cathedral City Kick Off. First, Liberty will face No. 12 Fresno State at 3 p.m. local time, followed by a matchup against UC Riverside at 8 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Arioto, Valerie (1-0)
L: Smith, Tiffani (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Leomiti, Gina 1
HR: Reid, Jamia 1 ; Sevilla, Vernae 1
RBI: Arioto, Valerie 1 ; Thomas, Shannon 1 ; Arth, Carrie 1 ; Reid, Jamia 3 ; Leomiti, Gina 1 ; Sevilla, Vernae 1 ; Bauer, Lauren 1 ; Kelly, Taylor 1 ; Reid, Elia 2
SF: Thomas, Shannon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Arioto, Valerie 1 ; Reid, Jamia 2 ; Leomiti, Gina 1 ; Sevilla, Vernae 2 ; Houston, Shannon 1 ; Kekahuna, Sanoe 2 ; Echavarria, Frani 2 ; Bauer, Lauren 1 ; Kelly, Taylor 1 ; Schrey, Nikki 1 ; Reid, Elia 1
SB: Arioto, Valerie 1 ; Reid, Jamia 1 ; Echavarria, Frani 1 ; Reid, Elia 2
HBP: Arioto, Valerie 1
Batting:
SH: Bensinger, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baisden, Meredith 1
SB: Hendrix, Cassie 1
HBP: Howard, Danielle 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
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INF
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UTL
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UTL
/ SoftballINF
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INF
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RHP/UTL
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballUTL
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RHP/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
UTL
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