Saturday, March 14
Boca Raton, Fla.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
7-15
0
vs
1
Texas A&M
21-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
No. 18 Aggies Creep Past Lady Flames
3/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames made it a battle for the 2008 national championship runner-up, taking the Aggies of Texas A&M through six scoreless innings before designated player Taryn Broussard tapped a single to left field to drive in the first and only run of the game, leading the No. 18 Aggies to a 1-0 victory over the Lady Flames. The game was Liberty's fourth at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.
The Lady Flames got a bit lucky in the top of the first, when Jenny Law reached on an error by first baseman Rhiannon Kliesing, who muffed the throw from shortstop. Law then moved to second on a passed ball, and the Lady Flames found themselves with a runner in scoring position with no outs. But Law never advanced, as Amber DePasquale struck out, J'nae Jefferson popped up to the pitcher and Kaylee West grounded out to third.
The Aggies led off the bottom of the first with a single to right center from Natalie Villarreal. But she didn't do any damage, as catcher Keely McMillon threw her out at second on a steal attempt. The next two batters grounded out to end the inning.
The Lady Flames put runners on again in the top of the third. Cassie Hendrix led off with a ground ball that dribbled past the pitcher. Kelly Strickland was next up, and was tagged out by the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After DePasquale walked, the two
Liberty runners stayed stranded when Jefferson grounded out to shortstop.
Beth Bennett recorded another Liberty hit in the top of the fourth with a one-out single down the right field line. But the scoreless game continued, as McMillon flied out to center field and Danielle Howard popped out to first base to end the half-inning.
The Aggies made a threat in the bottom of the fourth, when they put runners on first and second with two outs. Holly Ridley reached on a walk and Erin Glasco singled to left field. But the Lady Flames escaped the jam when Kelsey Spittler grounded out to second base, and the score remained 0-0 going into the fifth inning.
The Lady Flames busted back-to-back singles in the top of the sixth, but once again came up empty-handed. West kicked it off when she hit a short fly ball that dropped in left field for a base hit with two outs, and Bennett followed with a single down the left field line.
But the side was retired when McMillon hit a grounder to the shortstop, who forced Bennett out at second.
The Liberty defense struggled in the bottom of the sixth, as the Aggies loaded the bases with only one out. But Spittler hit a ground ball to Ellis, who forced out the runner at home, and McMillon turned the double play, throwing out the runner at third.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies led off with a walk by Alex Reynolds, who moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kliesing. Broussard flied out to center field for the second out, but Andrea Tovar tapped a single to left field, scoring Reynolds from second base and giving Texas A&M the 1-0 victory.
Bennett led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-3.
Tovar was 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Aggies.
Rebecca Arbino (8-4) picked up the win, giving up four hits and striking out two batters in the complete game shutout.
Sarah Ellis (3-9) took the loss, scattering five hits and striking out four batters in 6.2 innings.
With the win, the No. 18 Aggies improve to 21-9, while Liberty drops to 7-15.
The Lady Flames are back in action Sunday at 11 a.m., when they take on Purdue to conclude the FAU Parents Weekend Tournament.
The Lady Flames got a bit lucky in the top of the first, when Jenny Law reached on an error by first baseman Rhiannon Kliesing, who muffed the throw from shortstop. Law then moved to second on a passed ball, and the Lady Flames found themselves with a runner in scoring position with no outs. But Law never advanced, as Amber DePasquale struck out, J'nae Jefferson popped up to the pitcher and Kaylee West grounded out to third.
The Aggies led off the bottom of the first with a single to right center from Natalie Villarreal. But she didn't do any damage, as catcher Keely McMillon threw her out at second on a steal attempt. The next two batters grounded out to end the inning.
The Lady Flames put runners on again in the top of the third. Cassie Hendrix led off with a ground ball that dribbled past the pitcher. Kelly Strickland was next up, and was tagged out by the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt attempt. After DePasquale walked, the two
Liberty runners stayed stranded when Jefferson grounded out to shortstop.
Beth Bennett recorded another Liberty hit in the top of the fourth with a one-out single down the right field line. But the scoreless game continued, as McMillon flied out to center field and Danielle Howard popped out to first base to end the half-inning.
The Aggies made a threat in the bottom of the fourth, when they put runners on first and second with two outs. Holly Ridley reached on a walk and Erin Glasco singled to left field. But the Lady Flames escaped the jam when Kelsey Spittler grounded out to second base, and the score remained 0-0 going into the fifth inning.
The Lady Flames busted back-to-back singles in the top of the sixth, but once again came up empty-handed. West kicked it off when she hit a short fly ball that dropped in left field for a base hit with two outs, and Bennett followed with a single down the left field line.
But the side was retired when McMillon hit a grounder to the shortstop, who forced Bennett out at second.
The Liberty defense struggled in the bottom of the sixth, as the Aggies loaded the bases with only one out. But Spittler hit a ground ball to Ellis, who forced out the runner at home, and McMillon turned the double play, throwing out the runner at third.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies led off with a walk by Alex Reynolds, who moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kliesing. Broussard flied out to center field for the second out, but Andrea Tovar tapped a single to left field, scoring Reynolds from second base and giving Texas A&M the 1-0 victory.
Bennett led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-3.
Tovar was 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Aggies.
Rebecca Arbino (8-4) picked up the win, giving up four hits and striking out two batters in the complete game shutout.
Sarah Ellis (3-9) took the loss, scattering five hits and striking out four batters in 6.2 innings.
With the win, the No. 18 Aggies improve to 21-9, while Liberty drops to 7-15.
The Lady Flames are back in action Sunday at 11 a.m., when they take on Purdue to conclude the FAU Parents Weekend Tournament.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Arbino, Rebecca (8-4)
L: Ellis, Sarah (3-9)
Base Running:
HBP: Strickland, Kelly 1
Batting:
RBI: Tovar, Andrea 1
SH: Kliesing, Rhiannon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reynolds, Alex 1
CS: Villarreal, Natalie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Alexia Carrasquillo: Following God's Plan
Wednesday, April 29
Felicity Fonseca: A Heart for Worship
Thursday, April 23
Ella Fox: Why Liberty?
Wednesday, April 08
Rewriting History: "A program-defining moment that we’ll never forget”
Wednesday, March 25