Saturday, May 9
Radford, Va.
1:45 PM
Liberty University
24-34
3
vs
1
Charleston Southern
26-33
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 3 | 10 | 1 |
LU Overcomes CSU to Advance to Title Game
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames continued their successful fifth-inning trend, as Liberty scored three runs in the frame to overtake Charleston Southern, 3-1, Saturday afternoon. With the come-from-behind victory, the Lady Flames advance to the Big South Softball Championship title game for the second consecutive year.
The Lady Flames, who have now outscored opponents by a 33-13 margin in the fifth inning this season, will face No. 1 seed Radford in the tournament finals this afternoon. Liberty must defeat the Highlanders twice to take the championship in the double-elimination tournament. The Lady Flames lost yesterday's contest to the Highlanders, 2-1.
The Lady Bucs loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but the Liberty defense held its ground, with Tiffani Smith, Keely McMillon and Beth Bennett executing a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam.
The Lady Flames followed up, placing two runners on base during their first at-bat. Cassie Hendrix led off with a single through the right side, and after J'nae Jefferson flied out to left, Hendrix was forced out at second on a grounder by Kelly Strickland. Beth Bennett walked to put runners on first and second with two outs, but a ground ball by Keely McMillon was played by Charleston Southern third baseman Gail Matsushima, as she stepped on the bag to force out Strickland, ending the inning.
The Lady Bucs were the first to jump on the scoreboard, when Brittany York hit her third home run of the year, a solo shot over the left field fence, putting Charleston Southern up, 1-0, in the top of the second inning.
The Lady Flames put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the second. Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on the next play, when designated player Jenny Law reached on a single to third base, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Matsushima. But the runners stayed stranded, as Jefferson hit a grounder right to Matsushima, who forced out Law to end the inning and the Liberty scoring opportunity.
After back-to-back singles up the middle from Megan Hall and Matsushima in the top of the third, Liberty coach Paul Wetmore brought in Sarah Ellis, who went 3-0 against Charleston Southern in the regular season, to relieve starting pitcher Tiffani Smith. Jamie Wellons was called out on an infield fly rule, and Lisa Rice grounded out to second base for the third out.
Strickland led off the bottom of the third with a single to center field, but was forced out at second on the next play when Bennett hit a grounder to shortstop Amy Trenkamp. McMillon then flied out to center field, and Amber DePasquale grounded out to second base to end the inning with the Lady Bucs maintaining a 1-0 lead.
J'nae Jefferson tried to kick start the Liberty offense in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a double to left-center, Charleston Southern promptly brought in Sondra Vetter to replace starting pitcher Wellons. Jefferson immediately moved to third on a wild pitch, but Strickand fouled out to Matsushima for the first out.
Bennett tied the game on the next play when she ripped a stand-up double to left center, driving Jefferson home and earning Liberty's first run of the day.
McMillon was next up to the plate, and the sophomore catcher stepped up and ripped a long ball that sailed over the center field fence for her first home run of the year, giving Liberty a 3-1 lead.
DePasquale continued the offensive swell for the Lady Flames with a double to right field, and Charleston Southern brought in Caitlen Allen to relieve Vetter in the circle.
After Howard grounded out to third, DePasquale advanced on a wild pitch. However, Law grounded out to third on the next play, ending the Liberty scoring surge.
After a scoreless frame by the Lady Bucs, the Lady Flames started a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jefferson singled up the middle, and moved to second on a single through the left side by Strickland. Bennett then drew a walk to load the bases, and McMillon was up next. But the Charleston Southern defense held strong, getting McMillon to ground out to short to end the inning.
The Lady Bucs entered their final scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh down by two runs. Ellis turned up the heat, fanning York and Melissa Adams for the first two outs. Liberty ended the game on the next play when Brittany Giannini popped out to third base, putting the Lady Flames into the Big South Softball Championship title game for the second consecutive year.
McMillon led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Bennett was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Lady Bucs were paced by York, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Hall, who was 3-for-3.
Ellis (14-22) picked up the win in the circle, giving up only one hit and striking out four batters in 4.2 innings of relief work.
Vetter (12-12) took the loss, giving up three hits and two earned runs in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Lady Flames improve to 25-34 on the year, and Charleston Southern ends the season with a 26-33 overall record.
The Lady Flames, who have now outscored opponents by a 33-13 margin in the fifth inning this season, will face No. 1 seed Radford in the tournament finals this afternoon. Liberty must defeat the Highlanders twice to take the championship in the double-elimination tournament. The Lady Flames lost yesterday's contest to the Highlanders, 2-1.
The Lady Bucs loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but the Liberty defense held its ground, with Tiffani Smith, Keely McMillon and Beth Bennett executing a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam.
The Lady Flames followed up, placing two runners on base during their first at-bat. Cassie Hendrix led off with a single through the right side, and after J'nae Jefferson flied out to left, Hendrix was forced out at second on a grounder by Kelly Strickland. Beth Bennett walked to put runners on first and second with two outs, but a ground ball by Keely McMillon was played by Charleston Southern third baseman Gail Matsushima, as she stepped on the bag to force out Strickland, ending the inning.
The Lady Bucs were the first to jump on the scoreboard, when Brittany York hit her third home run of the year, a solo shot over the left field fence, putting Charleston Southern up, 1-0, in the top of the second inning.
The Lady Flames put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the second. Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on the next play, when designated player Jenny Law reached on a single to third base, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Matsushima. But the runners stayed stranded, as Jefferson hit a grounder right to Matsushima, who forced out Law to end the inning and the Liberty scoring opportunity.
After back-to-back singles up the middle from Megan Hall and Matsushima in the top of the third, Liberty coach Paul Wetmore brought in Sarah Ellis, who went 3-0 against Charleston Southern in the regular season, to relieve starting pitcher Tiffani Smith. Jamie Wellons was called out on an infield fly rule, and Lisa Rice grounded out to second base for the third out.
Strickland led off the bottom of the third with a single to center field, but was forced out at second on the next play when Bennett hit a grounder to shortstop Amy Trenkamp. McMillon then flied out to center field, and Amber DePasquale grounded out to second base to end the inning with the Lady Bucs maintaining a 1-0 lead.
J'nae Jefferson tried to kick start the Liberty offense in the bottom of the fifth, leading off with a double to left-center, Charleston Southern promptly brought in Sondra Vetter to replace starting pitcher Wellons. Jefferson immediately moved to third on a wild pitch, but Strickand fouled out to Matsushima for the first out.
Bennett tied the game on the next play when she ripped a stand-up double to left center, driving Jefferson home and earning Liberty's first run of the day.
McMillon was next up to the plate, and the sophomore catcher stepped up and ripped a long ball that sailed over the center field fence for her first home run of the year, giving Liberty a 3-1 lead.
DePasquale continued the offensive swell for the Lady Flames with a double to right field, and Charleston Southern brought in Caitlen Allen to relieve Vetter in the circle.
After Howard grounded out to third, DePasquale advanced on a wild pitch. However, Law grounded out to third on the next play, ending the Liberty scoring surge.
After a scoreless frame by the Lady Bucs, the Lady Flames started a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jefferson singled up the middle, and moved to second on a single through the left side by Strickland. Bennett then drew a walk to load the bases, and McMillon was up next. But the Charleston Southern defense held strong, getting McMillon to ground out to short to end the inning.
The Lady Bucs entered their final scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh down by two runs. Ellis turned up the heat, fanning York and Melissa Adams for the first two outs. Liberty ended the game on the next play when Brittany Giannini popped out to third base, putting the Lady Flames into the Big South Softball Championship title game for the second consecutive year.
McMillon led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Bennett was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Lady Bucs were paced by York, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Hall, who was 3-for-3.
Ellis (14-22) picked up the win in the circle, giving up only one hit and striking out four batters in 4.2 innings of relief work.
Vetter (12-12) took the loss, giving up three hits and two earned runs in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Lady Flames improve to 25-34 on the year, and Charleston Southern ends the season with a 26-33 overall record.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (14-22)
L: VETTER, Sondra (12-12)
Batting:
HR: YORK, Brittany 1
RBI: YORK, Brittany 1
Base Running:
RUNS: YORK, Brittany 1
SB: TRENKAMP, Amy 1 ; HALL, Megan 2
Batting:
2B: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1
HR: McMillon, Keely 1
RBI: Bennett, Beth 1 ; McMillon, Keely 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; McMillon, Keely 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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