Tuesday, March 10
DeLand, Fla.
5:00 PM
Liberty University
5-11
1
at
0
Stetson
7-12
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Liberty
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
8
0
Stetson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Ellis' Strong Outing Lifts LU over Hatters
3/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Behind a stellar performance from starting pitcher Sarah Ellis, the Lady Flames defeated Stetson, 1-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at Patricia Wilson Field, Tuesday afternoon.
The Hatters recorded the first hit of the game when leadoff batter Amy Joyce ripped an infield single. But the next three batters were thrown out at first, and Liberty went into the second inning with a scoreless game.
Freshman Kaylee West pounded Liberty's first hit of the game in the top of the second with a hard infield single, and advanced to second on a Beth Bennett walk. But the runners were stranded, as Kelly Strickland struck out looking and Cassie Hendrix grounded out to shortstop.
Ellis got into a jam in the bottom of the second with two outs, when Amanda Bailey reached after being hit by a pitch, then stole second. But the senior got out of the inning by striking out Heather Barnes, leaving the game knotted at 0-0.
J'nae Jefferson tried to start a rally with two outs in the top of the third when she hit a short fly ball to left center field that dropped in for a single. She then advanced to second when Danielle Howard ripped a hard grounder up the middle. But the runners couldn't score, as Jefferson was forced out at third when Keely McMillon hit into a fielder's choice play to shortstop.
The Lady Flames found themselves in a similar situation in the top of the fifth. Jefferson reached on a short single to center field, and advanced when Howard busted a hard grounder to the left side of the infield, which was misplayed and allowed both runners to advance. But once again, the Lady Flames failed to put a score on the board, as McMillon grounded out.
Liberty got its first break since its Florida road trip began, as the Lady Flames scored the first run of the game on a Stetson error in the top of the sixth. Bennett led off with a double to right center, that barely missed clearing the fence for the senior's fourth home run of the year. Bennett was lifted for pinch runner Jennifer Pittman, who advanced to third when Strickland was thrown out at first on a grounder back to the circle.
Pittman then crossed the plate when DePasquale hit a grounder that was misfielded by shortstop Chelsey Trotto, as the middle infielder misplayed the ball. DePasquale advanced to second on an errant throw, and Trotto was charged with two errors on the play.
Liberty was unable to score again in the top of the seventh, and went into the bottom of the seventh clinging to a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Flames defense stayed strong, and a three-up, three-down performance gave Liberty its second win of the road trip and fifth win of the season.
Ellis (2-7) picked up the win in the complete game shutout, giving up only two hits and striking out seven.
Demers (4-6) took the loss, scattering eight hits and striking out four in the complete game showing.
Jefferson and Howard led the Lady Flames, both batting 2-for-4 in the contest, helping the Lady Flames improve to 5-11 on the year.
The loss dropped the homestanding Hatters to 7-11.
Game 2 of the doubleheader between the Lady Flames and the Hatters is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The Hatters recorded the first hit of the game when leadoff batter Amy Joyce ripped an infield single. But the next three batters were thrown out at first, and Liberty went into the second inning with a scoreless game.
Freshman Kaylee West pounded Liberty's first hit of the game in the top of the second with a hard infield single, and advanced to second on a Beth Bennett walk. But the runners were stranded, as Kelly Strickland struck out looking and Cassie Hendrix grounded out to shortstop.
Ellis got into a jam in the bottom of the second with two outs, when Amanda Bailey reached after being hit by a pitch, then stole second. But the senior got out of the inning by striking out Heather Barnes, leaving the game knotted at 0-0.
J'nae Jefferson tried to start a rally with two outs in the top of the third when she hit a short fly ball to left center field that dropped in for a single. She then advanced to second when Danielle Howard ripped a hard grounder up the middle. But the runners couldn't score, as Jefferson was forced out at third when Keely McMillon hit into a fielder's choice play to shortstop.
The Lady Flames found themselves in a similar situation in the top of the fifth. Jefferson reached on a short single to center field, and advanced when Howard busted a hard grounder to the left side of the infield, which was misplayed and allowed both runners to advance. But once again, the Lady Flames failed to put a score on the board, as McMillon grounded out.
Liberty got its first break since its Florida road trip began, as the Lady Flames scored the first run of the game on a Stetson error in the top of the sixth. Bennett led off with a double to right center, that barely missed clearing the fence for the senior's fourth home run of the year. Bennett was lifted for pinch runner Jennifer Pittman, who advanced to third when Strickland was thrown out at first on a grounder back to the circle.
Pittman then crossed the plate when DePasquale hit a grounder that was misfielded by shortstop Chelsey Trotto, as the middle infielder misplayed the ball. DePasquale advanced to second on an errant throw, and Trotto was charged with two errors on the play.
Liberty was unable to score again in the top of the seventh, and went into the bottom of the seventh clinging to a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Flames defense stayed strong, and a three-up, three-down performance gave Liberty its second win of the road trip and fifth win of the season.
Ellis (2-7) picked up the win in the complete game shutout, giving up only two hits and striking out seven.
Demers (4-6) took the loss, scattering eight hits and striking out four in the complete game showing.
Jefferson and Howard led the Lady Flames, both batting 2-for-4 in the contest, helping the Lady Flames improve to 5-11 on the year.
The loss dropped the homestanding Hatters to 7-11.
Game 2 of the doubleheader between the Lady Flames and the Hatters is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (2-7)
L: DEMERS, Erica (4-6)
Batting:
2B: Bennett, Beth 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pittman, Jennifer 1
Base Running:
SB: BAILEY, Amanda 1
HBP: BAILEY, Amanda 1 ; PETERS 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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