LU Returns Home to Host Virginia Tech
4/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
After a four-day road trip to Harrisonburg, Va. and Boiling Springs, N.C., the Lady Flames return home to host the Hokies of Virginia Tech in a doubleheader, Thursday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field.
During the road swing last week, the Lady Flames (15-25, 4-5 Big South) dropped four of five games, each by one run. During the stretch, Liberty's bats remained hot. The Lady Flames have recorded six or more hits in six of the last seven games, and have logged extra-base hits in 11 of the last 12 contests.
Beth Bennett leads the Lady Flames with a .271 batting average, 29 hits and 20 RBIs. The senior, who is batting .391 in conference play, has recorded a hit in six of the last eight games, and two home runs in the last four. Danielle Howard and J'nae Jefferson are both batting .257 on the year, with 27 and 29 hits, respectively.
Liberty hurler Tiffani Smith was named the Big South Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, after going 1-1 last week with a 1.70 ERA. For the year, Smith is 7-8 with a 1.92 ERA, giving up 87 hits and striking out 106 batters in 116.2 innings of work.
Virginia Tech (17-19, 7-5 ACC), a 2008 Women's College World Series participant, enters the series with Liberty on a four-game winning streak, after sweeping Boston College in a three-game series over the weekend, and defeating Florida State, 2-0, on April 5 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Jenna Rhodes leads Virginia Tech, batting .472 on the year with 58 hits and 21 runs scored, while Charisse Mariconda is batting .388 with 24 RBIs.
Pitcher Kenzie Roark is 12-11 in 2009, with a 3.30 ERA. She has given up 147 hits and struck out 99 batters in 142.1 total innings pitched.
The Lady Flames are 11-21 all-time against the Hokies, falling in last year's doubleheader, 7-2 and 9-1, on April 16 in Blacksburg, Va.
The last Liberty victory came in 2006, when the Lady Flames swept the No. 24 Hokies, 6-5 and 3-0, on May 4 in Lynchburg.
Notes from the Backstop
Honors for Smith
Tiffani Smith became the first Liberty pitcher to win the Big South New Balance Pitcher of the Week honors more than once in a season since 2007, when Terra Lowe took home the award four times. Smith has given up two or less earned runs in her last five appearances, and has allowed three or fewer hits in four of her last five games. She is currently third in the Big South with 106 strikeouts, followed by Liberty's Sarah Ellis with 101.
Strong Offense Continues
The Lady Flames have stayed strong at the plate, recording four or more hits in 10 out of the last 12 games, and six or more hits in five of the last seven contests.
Home Run Hitters
The Lady Flames have hit 16 home runs in 2009, with six in the last seven games. Beth Bennett has logged seven bombs on the year, with two in the last four contests.
During the road swing last week, the Lady Flames (15-25, 4-5 Big South) dropped four of five games, each by one run. During the stretch, Liberty's bats remained hot. The Lady Flames have recorded six or more hits in six of the last seven games, and have logged extra-base hits in 11 of the last 12 contests.
Beth Bennett leads the Lady Flames with a .271 batting average, 29 hits and 20 RBIs. The senior, who is batting .391 in conference play, has recorded a hit in six of the last eight games, and two home runs in the last four. Danielle Howard and J'nae Jefferson are both batting .257 on the year, with 27 and 29 hits, respectively.
Liberty hurler Tiffani Smith was named the Big South Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, after going 1-1 last week with a 1.70 ERA. For the year, Smith is 7-8 with a 1.92 ERA, giving up 87 hits and striking out 106 batters in 116.2 innings of work.
Virginia Tech (17-19, 7-5 ACC), a 2008 Women's College World Series participant, enters the series with Liberty on a four-game winning streak, after sweeping Boston College in a three-game series over the weekend, and defeating Florida State, 2-0, on April 5 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Jenna Rhodes leads Virginia Tech, batting .472 on the year with 58 hits and 21 runs scored, while Charisse Mariconda is batting .388 with 24 RBIs.
Pitcher Kenzie Roark is 12-11 in 2009, with a 3.30 ERA. She has given up 147 hits and struck out 99 batters in 142.1 total innings pitched.
The Lady Flames are 11-21 all-time against the Hokies, falling in last year's doubleheader, 7-2 and 9-1, on April 16 in Blacksburg, Va.
The last Liberty victory came in 2006, when the Lady Flames swept the No. 24 Hokies, 6-5 and 3-0, on May 4 in Lynchburg.
Notes from the Backstop
Honors for Smith
Tiffani Smith became the first Liberty pitcher to win the Big South New Balance Pitcher of the Week honors more than once in a season since 2007, when Terra Lowe took home the award four times. Smith has given up two or less earned runs in her last five appearances, and has allowed three or fewer hits in four of her last five games. She is currently third in the Big South with 106 strikeouts, followed by Liberty's Sarah Ellis with 101.
Strong Offense Continues
The Lady Flames have stayed strong at the plate, recording four or more hits in 10 out of the last 12 games, and six or more hits in five of the last seven contests.
Home Run Hitters
The Lady Flames have hit 16 home runs in 2009, with six in the last seven games. Beth Bennett has logged seven bombs on the year, with two in the last four contests.
Wednesday, May 06
Tuesday, May 05
Monday, May 04
Wednesday, April 29