Friday, March 13
Boca Raton, Fla.
11:00 AM
Liberty University
6-13
3
vs
0
Rutgers
6-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Rutgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
LU Shuts Out Rutgers to Open FAU Tournament
3/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Another strong performance from Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis, combined with four Rutgers errors, allowed the Lady Flames to shut out the Scarlet Knights, 3-0, in the opening game of the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament, Friday morning.
Liberty was first to record a hit, when Danielle Howard tapped a short single down the third base line in the top of the second with two outs. She then found herself in scoring position after stealing second, but Cassie Hendrix grounded out to end the half-inning.
Things got out of control for the Scarlet Knights in the top of the third, as the Lady Flames took advantage of three Rutgers' errors, scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead.
Designated player Jenny Law reached on a throwing error by second baseman Kate Valiante, and advanced to second because the ball was thrown into the dugout. This was practically identical to Law's at-bat in the top of the first, when she reached on a Valiante fielding error.
Law moved to third when sophomore Amber DePasquale reached on an error by shortstop Mickenzie Alden, who bobbled the ground ball. But DePasquale was called out on the next play when she left the base early.
Rutgers' fielding nightmares continued when J'nae Jefferson slapped a ground ball to Valiante, who committed another throwing error, allowing Jefferson to reach safely at first and Law to cross home plate to give the Lady Flames a 1-0 lead.
Kaylee West kept the two-out rally going when she tapped a ball that dribbled short in the infield, and catcher Kim Hodges could not make a play on it. With West at first and Jefferson at third, Rutgers brought in relief pitcher Holly Johnson. With Beth Bennett up to bat, Jefferson scored on a passed ball to put the Lady Flames up 2-0, but West was thrown out at third on the same play to end the half-inning.
Ellis did not give up a single hit until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Jen Meinhert hit an infield grounder to third and beat the throw to record the two-out single. But the inning ended with no Rutgers runs, as Amanda Shaw flied out to left field.
Liberty extended the lead in the top of the sixth, as West ripped a two-out double deep to left center field. Bennett then drove in pinch runner Jennifer Pittman from second when she belted a single to center field, adding another run to Liberty's lead.
The Scarlet Knights threatened a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After Sarah Kalka struck out swinging, Mandy Craig singled to center field. Valiante then reached on a fielder's choice when shortstop Kelly Strickland fielded the ground ball and forced out Craig at second. With two outs, pinch hitter Carissa Conroy walked, and Valiante moved to second. But Ellis ended the game when she struck out Meinheit, giving the Lady Flames their sixth win of the year.
West batted 2-for-3 for the Lady Flames, and Bennett was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Craig and Meinheit led Rutgers, and were both 1-for-2.
Ellis improves to 3-7 on the year, giving up just two hits and striking out seven batters in the complete-game shutout. Sisco took the loss in her first start of the year, falling to 0-1.
Following the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament's opening game, Rutgers is now 6-9, and Liberty improves to 6-13 in 2009.
The Lady Flames are back in action at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament tonight at 6 p.m. against host Florida Atlantic, who knocked off Liberty, 4-1, last night in a single-game prequel to the weekend event.
Liberty was first to record a hit, when Danielle Howard tapped a short single down the third base line in the top of the second with two outs. She then found herself in scoring position after stealing second, but Cassie Hendrix grounded out to end the half-inning.
Things got out of control for the Scarlet Knights in the top of the third, as the Lady Flames took advantage of three Rutgers' errors, scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead.
Designated player Jenny Law reached on a throwing error by second baseman Kate Valiante, and advanced to second because the ball was thrown into the dugout. This was practically identical to Law's at-bat in the top of the first, when she reached on a Valiante fielding error.
Law moved to third when sophomore Amber DePasquale reached on an error by shortstop Mickenzie Alden, who bobbled the ground ball. But DePasquale was called out on the next play when she left the base early.
Rutgers' fielding nightmares continued when J'nae Jefferson slapped a ground ball to Valiante, who committed another throwing error, allowing Jefferson to reach safely at first and Law to cross home plate to give the Lady Flames a 1-0 lead.
Kaylee West kept the two-out rally going when she tapped a ball that dribbled short in the infield, and catcher Kim Hodges could not make a play on it. With West at first and Jefferson at third, Rutgers brought in relief pitcher Holly Johnson. With Beth Bennett up to bat, Jefferson scored on a passed ball to put the Lady Flames up 2-0, but West was thrown out at third on the same play to end the half-inning.
Ellis did not give up a single hit until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Jen Meinhert hit an infield grounder to third and beat the throw to record the two-out single. But the inning ended with no Rutgers runs, as Amanda Shaw flied out to left field.
Liberty extended the lead in the top of the sixth, as West ripped a two-out double deep to left center field. Bennett then drove in pinch runner Jennifer Pittman from second when she belted a single to center field, adding another run to Liberty's lead.
The Scarlet Knights threatened a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. After Sarah Kalka struck out swinging, Mandy Craig singled to center field. Valiante then reached on a fielder's choice when shortstop Kelly Strickland fielded the ground ball and forced out Craig at second. With two outs, pinch hitter Carissa Conroy walked, and Valiante moved to second. But Ellis ended the game when she struck out Meinheit, giving the Lady Flames their sixth win of the year.
West batted 2-for-3 for the Lady Flames, and Bennett was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Craig and Meinheit led Rutgers, and were both 1-for-2.
Ellis improves to 3-7 on the year, giving up just two hits and striking out seven batters in the complete-game shutout. Sisco took the loss in her first start of the year, falling to 0-1.
Following the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament's opening game, Rutgers is now 6-9, and Liberty improves to 6-13 in 2009.
The Lady Flames are back in action at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament tonight at 6 p.m. against host Florida Atlantic, who knocked off Liberty, 4-1, last night in a single-game prequel to the weekend event.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (3-7)
L: SISCO, Noelle (0-1)
Batting:
2B: West, Kaylee 1
RBI: Bennett, Beth 1
SH: DePasquale, Amber 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Law, Jenny 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Pittman, Jennifer 1
SB: Howard, Danielle 1
CS: Howard, Danielle 1
Batting:
SH: VALIANTE, Kate 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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