Friday, April 24
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
18-30, 0
10
vs
0
Presbyterian
18-26, 0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Presbyterian
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
Liberty
0
3
3
4
X
10
11
1
Strickland Shines as LU Shuts Out Blue Hose
4/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kelly Strickland had a career day on the diamond, busting two home runs and driving in four as the Lady Flames shut out the Blue Hose of Presbyterian, 10-0, in five innings to complete the doubleheader sweep. Strickland also achieved a career high in runs scored, as she crossed the plate three times.
Liberty started out in a big way, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Keely McMillon led off with a single down the right field line, and Strickland reached on a fielding error by Presbyterian first baseman Leslie Hensley. Danielle Howard was next up, and smacked a single to left center, loading the bases with no one out.
On the next play, Jenna Eatmon reached on an error by Blue Hose pitcher Brittany Howell, allowing McMillon to score. With the bases still loaded, designated player Kaylee West stepped up to belt a single through the left side, driving in two runs to put Liberty up, 3-0.
The Lady Flames doubled their lead in the bottom of the third thanks to back-to-back homers from Strickland and Howard. Strickland ripped a two-run shot over the center field fence, and Howard belted a solo bomb to left field, pushing the score to 6-0 in Liberty's favor.
The Blue Hose threatened to stage a comeback in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. But pitcher Sarah Ellis got out of the jam, as she threw out Gordon at home on a grounder by Erin Stewart, and struck out Morgan White to end the Presbyterian scoring opportunity.
Liberty continued the offensive swell in the bottom of the fourth, adding four runs to their commanding lead. Cassie Hendrix led off with an infield single, and advanced to second on a muffed throw by the shortstop when J'nae Jefferson hit an infield grounder. On the next play, Amber DePasquale reached on a fielder's choice and Jefferson moved to second, but Hendrix was out on a runner's interference call.
With runners on first and second and one out, Beth Bennett doubled to center field to drive in two runs, giving the Liberty an 8-0 advantage.
That's when Strickland stepped up to knock her second home run of the game, bringing in two more runs to put the Lady Flames up, 10-0, their biggest lead of the season.
On their final chance in the top of the fifth, the Blue Hose again struggled to generate any offense, as Lindsey Trombley struck out looking, Amanda Miller lined out to third and Laura Tate-Owings flied out to right field to end the game.
The win marks Liberty's first five-inning victory in 2009.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Howard was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bennett drove in two runs, and McMillon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Gordon and Stephanie Payne were 1-for-2 for the Blue Hose, while Miller batted 1-for-3.
Ellis (10-19) picked up the win in the circle for Liberty, giving up only three hits and striking out five batters in the five-inning shutout.
Howell (2-2) took the loss, scattering 10 hits and striking out one batter in 3.2 innings of work.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 18-30 on the year, and 6-7 in Big South play, while Presbyterian drops to 18-26 overall and 5-12 in the conference.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow in the single-game series finale at Liberty Softball Field, with the first pitch scheduled for noon. Tomorrow also marks the Lady Flames Senior Day, where the Liberty seniors will be honored on the field prior to the game.
Liberty started out in a big way, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Keely McMillon led off with a single down the right field line, and Strickland reached on a fielding error by Presbyterian first baseman Leslie Hensley. Danielle Howard was next up, and smacked a single to left center, loading the bases with no one out.
On the next play, Jenna Eatmon reached on an error by Blue Hose pitcher Brittany Howell, allowing McMillon to score. With the bases still loaded, designated player Kaylee West stepped up to belt a single through the left side, driving in two runs to put Liberty up, 3-0.
The Lady Flames doubled their lead in the bottom of the third thanks to back-to-back homers from Strickland and Howard. Strickland ripped a two-run shot over the center field fence, and Howard belted a solo bomb to left field, pushing the score to 6-0 in Liberty's favor.
The Blue Hose threatened to stage a comeback in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. But pitcher Sarah Ellis got out of the jam, as she threw out Gordon at home on a grounder by Erin Stewart, and struck out Morgan White to end the Presbyterian scoring opportunity.
Liberty continued the offensive swell in the bottom of the fourth, adding four runs to their commanding lead. Cassie Hendrix led off with an infield single, and advanced to second on a muffed throw by the shortstop when J'nae Jefferson hit an infield grounder. On the next play, Amber DePasquale reached on a fielder's choice and Jefferson moved to second, but Hendrix was out on a runner's interference call.
With runners on first and second and one out, Beth Bennett doubled to center field to drive in two runs, giving the Liberty an 8-0 advantage.
That's when Strickland stepped up to knock her second home run of the game, bringing in two more runs to put the Lady Flames up, 10-0, their biggest lead of the season.
On their final chance in the top of the fifth, the Blue Hose again struggled to generate any offense, as Lindsey Trombley struck out looking, Amanda Miller lined out to third and Laura Tate-Owings flied out to right field to end the game.
The win marks Liberty's first five-inning victory in 2009.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Howard was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bennett drove in two runs, and McMillon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Gordon and Stephanie Payne were 1-for-2 for the Blue Hose, while Miller batted 1-for-3.
Ellis (10-19) picked up the win in the circle for Liberty, giving up only three hits and striking out five batters in the five-inning shutout.
Howell (2-2) took the loss, scattering 10 hits and striking out one batter in 3.2 innings of work.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 18-30 on the year, and 6-7 in Big South play, while Presbyterian drops to 18-26 overall and 5-12 in the conference.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow in the single-game series finale at Liberty Softball Field, with the first pitch scheduled for noon. Tomorrow also marks the Lady Flames Senior Day, where the Liberty seniors will be honored on the field prior to the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (10-19)
L: HOWELL, Brittany (2-2)
Batting:
2B: MILLER, Amanda 1
Batting:
2B: Bennett, Beth 1
HR: Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Howard, Danielle 1
RBI: Bennett, Beth 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 4 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; West, Kaylee 2
SH: Jefferson, J'nae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; McMillon, Keely 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 3 ; Howard, Danielle 2
HBP: Hendrix, Cassie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
4
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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