Wednesday, April 22
Lynchburg, Va.
3:00 PM
Liberty University
16-29, 0
1
vs
4
Radford
29-12, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Two Homers Lift Highlanders over Lady Flames
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Paced by two home runs by sophomore Shannon Keefe, the Highlanders defeated the Lady Flames, 4-1, in the first game of a conference doubleheader, Wednesday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field.
The Highlanders started out strong, scoring a run quickly in the top of the first. With one out, Kristen Shifflett doubled to right center, and after Sarah Himan popped out to second base, Nichole Beall singled to left, scoring Shifflett and giving Radford a 1-0 lead.
Radford added another run in the top of the second, when designated player Keefe led off with a lined homer over the left-center field fence, putting the score at 2-0.
The Liberty offense struggled, failing to put a runner on for the first two innings.
Shifflett got on base again in the top of the third when she was hit by a pitch, and moved into scoring position when Himan grounded out to second base. But pitcher Sarah Ellis got out of the inning by striking out Nichole Beall, and the score remained 2-0.
Designated player Ashley Bensinger was Liberty's first baserunner of the game, reaching first base after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning with one out. But the Highlander defense kept her there, as Kaylee West struck out swinging and Cassie Hendrix grounded out to third to end the inning.
Keefe recorded her second home run of the game in the top of the fourth, extending Radford's lead to 3-0, with a one-out solo shot to left field.
J'nae Jefferson connected in the bottom of the fourth, ripping a double down the left field line for Liberty's first hit of the contest. She advanced to third when Amber DePasquale grounded out to first, but stayed stranded as Beth Bennett fouled out to first and Keely McMillon lined out to left field to end the inning.
Kelly Strickland tried to start something for the Lady Flames in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a single through the left side. But she was forced out at second when Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to the pitcher. Howard could not advance either, as Bensinger struck out swinging and pinch hitter Jenny Law grounded out.
The Highlanders threatened to extend their lead in the top of the sixth. Michelle Beall doubled to right field with one out, and Keefe singled to left and advanced to second, as Michelle Beall moved to third. But the Lady Flames got out of the jam on the next play, when Everhart popped a bunt to Bennett at first, who completed the double play by throwing out Michelle Beall at third.
The Highlanders cushioned their lead in the top of the seventh by adding another run. With one out, pinch hitter Taylor Cunningham reached on an infield single, and Lauren Williams immediately re-entered the game as the runner. After stealing second, Williams advanced to third when Godfrey grounded out to the pitcher. She scored on the next play when Shifflett singled to left, but the at-bat ended when Shifflett tried to make it to second and was thrown out on the play.
The Liberty offense picked up some momentum during their final opportunity at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, McMillon singled to left center, and pinch runner Jennifer Pittman moved to third when Strickland smacked a double to left center. Howard was able to drive in the Lady Flames' first run of the day on the next play, when she grounded out to shortstop, allowing Pittman to cross the plate. But the rally ended there, as Bensinger grounded out to the pitcher to end the game, and Radford walked away with a 4-1 victory.
Keefe led the Highlanders, batting 3-for-3 with two home runs, and Shifflett added a 3-for-3 effort with an RBI and a run scored.
Strickland was 2-for-3 for Liberty, while Howard drove in Liberty's only run.
Chelsea Kelley (14-6) picked up the win in the circle for Radford, giving up four hits and striking out three batters in seven innings of work.
Ellis (9-19) took the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out four in the complete-game appearance.
The Highlanders improve to 29-12 overall and 11-2 in conference play, while the Lady Flames fall to 16-29 overall and 4-6 in the Big South.
The two squads will face off in Game 2 this afternoon at Liberty Softball Field.
The Highlanders started out strong, scoring a run quickly in the top of the first. With one out, Kristen Shifflett doubled to right center, and after Sarah Himan popped out to second base, Nichole Beall singled to left, scoring Shifflett and giving Radford a 1-0 lead.
Radford added another run in the top of the second, when designated player Keefe led off with a lined homer over the left-center field fence, putting the score at 2-0.
The Liberty offense struggled, failing to put a runner on for the first two innings.
Shifflett got on base again in the top of the third when she was hit by a pitch, and moved into scoring position when Himan grounded out to second base. But pitcher Sarah Ellis got out of the inning by striking out Nichole Beall, and the score remained 2-0.
Designated player Ashley Bensinger was Liberty's first baserunner of the game, reaching first base after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the third inning with one out. But the Highlander defense kept her there, as Kaylee West struck out swinging and Cassie Hendrix grounded out to third to end the inning.
Keefe recorded her second home run of the game in the top of the fourth, extending Radford's lead to 3-0, with a one-out solo shot to left field.
J'nae Jefferson connected in the bottom of the fourth, ripping a double down the left field line for Liberty's first hit of the contest. She advanced to third when Amber DePasquale grounded out to first, but stayed stranded as Beth Bennett fouled out to first and Keely McMillon lined out to left field to end the inning.
Kelly Strickland tried to start something for the Lady Flames in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a single through the left side. But she was forced out at second when Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to the pitcher. Howard could not advance either, as Bensinger struck out swinging and pinch hitter Jenny Law grounded out.
The Highlanders threatened to extend their lead in the top of the sixth. Michelle Beall doubled to right field with one out, and Keefe singled to left and advanced to second, as Michelle Beall moved to third. But the Lady Flames got out of the jam on the next play, when Everhart popped a bunt to Bennett at first, who completed the double play by throwing out Michelle Beall at third.
The Highlanders cushioned their lead in the top of the seventh by adding another run. With one out, pinch hitter Taylor Cunningham reached on an infield single, and Lauren Williams immediately re-entered the game as the runner. After stealing second, Williams advanced to third when Godfrey grounded out to the pitcher. She scored on the next play when Shifflett singled to left, but the at-bat ended when Shifflett tried to make it to second and was thrown out on the play.
The Liberty offense picked up some momentum during their final opportunity at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, McMillon singled to left center, and pinch runner Jennifer Pittman moved to third when Strickland smacked a double to left center. Howard was able to drive in the Lady Flames' first run of the day on the next play, when she grounded out to shortstop, allowing Pittman to cross the plate. But the rally ended there, as Bensinger grounded out to the pitcher to end the game, and Radford walked away with a 4-1 victory.
Keefe led the Highlanders, batting 3-for-3 with two home runs, and Shifflett added a 3-for-3 effort with an RBI and a run scored.
Strickland was 2-for-3 for Liberty, while Howard drove in Liberty's only run.
Chelsea Kelley (14-6) picked up the win in the circle for Radford, giving up four hits and striking out three batters in seven innings of work.
Ellis (9-19) took the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out four in the complete-game appearance.
The Highlanders improve to 29-12 overall and 11-2 in conference play, while the Lady Flames fall to 16-29 overall and 4-6 in the Big South.
The two squads will face off in Game 2 this afternoon at Liberty Softball Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KELLEY, Chelsea (14-6)
L: Ellis, Sarah (9-19)
Batting:
2B: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; BEALL, Michelle 1
HR: KEEFE, Shannon 2
RBI: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; BEALL, Nichole 1 ; KEEFE, Shannon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; KEEFE, Shannon 2 ; WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
SB: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
HBP: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1
Batting:
2B: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1
RBI: Howard, Danielle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pittman, Jennifer 1
HBP: Bensinger, Ashley 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
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
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