Saturday, May 9
Radford, Va.
4:30 PM
Liberty University
26-34
5
at
3
Radford
39-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Radford | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
No. 3 Lady Flames Force Second Title Game
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 3 seed Liberty Lady Flames rode the momentum of a four-run first inning, stunning the No. 1 seed Radford Highlanders, 5-3, Saturday afternoon and forcing a second game to decide the 2009 Big South Softball Championship title.
A second championship tilt is necessary in the double-elimination event, as the Lady Flames dropped a 2-1 decision to Radford on Friday, and today's contest marks Radford's first loss.
The game started on an exciting note for the visitors, as the Lady Flames took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on two home runs amidst a two-out rally.
Cassie Hendrix jumped all over the first pitch, leading off with a single to right field, but J'nae Jefferson recorded the first out of the game on a bunt that popped up to first baseman Michelle Beall. One out later, Beth Bennett ripped a long ball down the left-field line that hit the foul pole and was ruled a home run by home plate umpire Raymond McDowell, and the Lady Flames took a 2-0 lead.
Keely McMillon, who hit her first home run of the season earlier in the day against Charleston Southern, stayed hot, slapping a single to center field to keep the two-out rally going. Then, Amber DePasquale stepped up and drilled her second home run of the year, a two-run bomb to left-center, and Liberty jumped ahead, 4-0.
At that point, relief pitcher Kellie Snooks took over duties in the circle for Radford starter Chelsea Kelley. The performance marked the Big South Pitcher of the Year's shortest start of the year. After Danielle Howard drew a walk, she was caught stealing at second to end the rally and the half-inning.
Radford leadoff batter Leigh Godfrey tried to start something for the Highlanders, recording a double to center field. The Liberty defense recorded two consecutive outs, as Kristen Shifflett struck out swinging and Sarah Himan grounded out to third. Nichole Beall then drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs, but Liberty starter Sarah Ellis came up with a big strikeout of No. 5 hitter Michelle Beall, and the Lady Flames held their lead.
Liberty designated player Jenny Law led off with a single to right center field to start the second inning, but was forced out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Jenna Eatmon. After Hendrix struck out swinging, Jefferson grounded out to second base to end the at-bat.
The second half of the inning was a three-up, three-down performance from Ellis, as Shannon Keefe grounded out to first, Jenn Everhart flied out to center field and Hope Creasy grounded out to third base.
Liberty's next appearance at the plate mirrored the bottom of the second, as Strickland flew out to right, Bennett popped out to first and McMillon flied out to center field, sending the game into the bottom of the third with Liberty still up, 4-0.
The Highlanders immediately put a runner on base in the bottom of the third, as No. 9 hitter Lauren Williams drew a walk. But she didn't pose a threat, as she was caught stealing by McMillon for the first out. Godfrey recorded the second out with a fly out to left field, but Shifflett kept the inning alive with a single to left. She advanced when Himan singled up the middle, bringing up clean-up hitter Nichole Beall with two outs. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch by Ellis, and then crossed the plate when Nichole Beall lined a two-run single to left and advanced to second on the throw. But the Lady Flames halted the Radford momentum on the next play as Michelle Beall popped out to third, and Liberty stayed in front, 4-2.
Radford kept its offense hot in the bottom of the fourth, as Keefe and Everhart recorded back-to-back singles. At that point, Liberty skipper Paul Wetmore brought in Tiffani Smith to relieve Ellis, as the Highlanders had runners on first and second with nobody out.
Creasy fouled out to first base, and was followed up by pinch hitter Nicole Daily, who struck out swinging. Big South Freshman of the Year Godfrey was up next, and hit a long fly ball to center field that DePasquale grabbed at the wall for the final out of the inning, keeping the score at 4-2.
The Lady Flames reverted back to the home run ball during their next at-bat, as Jenna Eatmon led off with her second home run of the year, and second roundtripper of the tournament, with a bomb over the fence in left-center. Two outs later, Bennett narrowly missed clearing the right field fence, but Creasy made the catch to end the at-bat, and Liberty held a 5-2 lead. The Lady Flames have now outscored opponents 34-13 in the fifth inning this season, including 6-0 during the conference tournament.
Neither squad could add any runs in the sixth, and the Lady Flames came up short in the top of the seventh, keeping the score at 5-2 as Radford headed into its final at-bat.
Williams led off with a walk, and advanced to third on a single through the right side from Godfrey, putting runners on the corners and the tying run at the plate with nobody out.
Shifflett was the next batter, and hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Williams to score, pushing the score to 5-3 with Godfrey still on first, and one out. Himan then reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to Jefferson, who forced Godfrey out at second, putting the Lady Flames one out away from the victory.
The last batter standing in Liberty's way was Nichole Beall, and she popped out to McMillon to give the Lady Flames a 5-3 victory, forcing a second game to decide the 2009 Big South Conference Champion.
Bennett and DePasquale paced the Lady Flames, each batting 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Eatmon was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Highlanders were led by Nichole Beall, who was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Lady Flames improve to 26-34 on the year, beating the Highlanders for the first time in 2009 after suffering four straight losses to the tournament's No. 1 seed and host team.
Liberty also snapped a 12-game Radford winning streak, as the Highlanders drop to 39-13 in 2009.
Smith (12-12) picked up the win in the circle for the Lady Flames, giving up only one hit and striking out two batters in four complete innings of effective relief.
Kelley (23-7) took her first loss since April 5, yielding four runs on four hits and a pair of home runs in 0.2 innings, while Snooks scattered four hits and struck out one batter in 6.1 innings of work.
The two squads will meet again this evening in the final game of the Big South Championship, deciding the tournament champion and automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier.
A second championship tilt is necessary in the double-elimination event, as the Lady Flames dropped a 2-1 decision to Radford on Friday, and today's contest marks Radford's first loss.
The game started on an exciting note for the visitors, as the Lady Flames took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on two home runs amidst a two-out rally.
Cassie Hendrix jumped all over the first pitch, leading off with a single to right field, but J'nae Jefferson recorded the first out of the game on a bunt that popped up to first baseman Michelle Beall. One out later, Beth Bennett ripped a long ball down the left-field line that hit the foul pole and was ruled a home run by home plate umpire Raymond McDowell, and the Lady Flames took a 2-0 lead.
Keely McMillon, who hit her first home run of the season earlier in the day against Charleston Southern, stayed hot, slapping a single to center field to keep the two-out rally going. Then, Amber DePasquale stepped up and drilled her second home run of the year, a two-run bomb to left-center, and Liberty jumped ahead, 4-0.
At that point, relief pitcher Kellie Snooks took over duties in the circle for Radford starter Chelsea Kelley. The performance marked the Big South Pitcher of the Year's shortest start of the year. After Danielle Howard drew a walk, she was caught stealing at second to end the rally and the half-inning.
Radford leadoff batter Leigh Godfrey tried to start something for the Highlanders, recording a double to center field. The Liberty defense recorded two consecutive outs, as Kristen Shifflett struck out swinging and Sarah Himan grounded out to third. Nichole Beall then drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs, but Liberty starter Sarah Ellis came up with a big strikeout of No. 5 hitter Michelle Beall, and the Lady Flames held their lead.
Liberty designated player Jenny Law led off with a single to right center field to start the second inning, but was forced out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Jenna Eatmon. After Hendrix struck out swinging, Jefferson grounded out to second base to end the at-bat.
The second half of the inning was a three-up, three-down performance from Ellis, as Shannon Keefe grounded out to first, Jenn Everhart flied out to center field and Hope Creasy grounded out to third base.
Liberty's next appearance at the plate mirrored the bottom of the second, as Strickland flew out to right, Bennett popped out to first and McMillon flied out to center field, sending the game into the bottom of the third with Liberty still up, 4-0.
The Highlanders immediately put a runner on base in the bottom of the third, as No. 9 hitter Lauren Williams drew a walk. But she didn't pose a threat, as she was caught stealing by McMillon for the first out. Godfrey recorded the second out with a fly out to left field, but Shifflett kept the inning alive with a single to left. She advanced when Himan singled up the middle, bringing up clean-up hitter Nichole Beall with two outs. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch by Ellis, and then crossed the plate when Nichole Beall lined a two-run single to left and advanced to second on the throw. But the Lady Flames halted the Radford momentum on the next play as Michelle Beall popped out to third, and Liberty stayed in front, 4-2.
Radford kept its offense hot in the bottom of the fourth, as Keefe and Everhart recorded back-to-back singles. At that point, Liberty skipper Paul Wetmore brought in Tiffani Smith to relieve Ellis, as the Highlanders had runners on first and second with nobody out.
Creasy fouled out to first base, and was followed up by pinch hitter Nicole Daily, who struck out swinging. Big South Freshman of the Year Godfrey was up next, and hit a long fly ball to center field that DePasquale grabbed at the wall for the final out of the inning, keeping the score at 4-2.
The Lady Flames reverted back to the home run ball during their next at-bat, as Jenna Eatmon led off with her second home run of the year, and second roundtripper of the tournament, with a bomb over the fence in left-center. Two outs later, Bennett narrowly missed clearing the right field fence, but Creasy made the catch to end the at-bat, and Liberty held a 5-2 lead. The Lady Flames have now outscored opponents 34-13 in the fifth inning this season, including 6-0 during the conference tournament.
Neither squad could add any runs in the sixth, and the Lady Flames came up short in the top of the seventh, keeping the score at 5-2 as Radford headed into its final at-bat.
Williams led off with a walk, and advanced to third on a single through the right side from Godfrey, putting runners on the corners and the tying run at the plate with nobody out.
Shifflett was the next batter, and hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Williams to score, pushing the score to 5-3 with Godfrey still on first, and one out. Himan then reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to Jefferson, who forced Godfrey out at second, putting the Lady Flames one out away from the victory.
The last batter standing in Liberty's way was Nichole Beall, and she popped out to McMillon to give the Lady Flames a 5-3 victory, forcing a second game to decide the 2009 Big South Conference Champion.
Bennett and DePasquale paced the Lady Flames, each batting 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Eatmon was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Highlanders were led by Nichole Beall, who was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Lady Flames improve to 26-34 on the year, beating the Highlanders for the first time in 2009 after suffering four straight losses to the tournament's No. 1 seed and host team.
Liberty also snapped a 12-game Radford winning streak, as the Highlanders drop to 39-13 in 2009.
Smith (12-12) picked up the win in the circle for the Lady Flames, giving up only one hit and striking out two batters in four complete innings of effective relief.
Kelley (23-7) took her first loss since April 5, yielding four runs on four hits and a pair of home runs in 0.2 innings, while Snooks scattered four hits and struck out one batter in 6.1 innings of work.
The two squads will meet again this evening in the final game of the Big South Championship, deciding the tournament champion and automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (12-12)
L: KELLEY, Chelsea (23-7)
Batting:
2B: Howard, Danielle 1
HR: Bennett, Beth 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
RBI: Bennett, Beth 2 ; DePasquale, Amber 2 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; McMillon, Keely 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
CS: Howard, Danielle 1
Batting:
2B: GODFREY, Leigh 1
RBI: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; BEALL, Nichole 2
SF: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; HIMAN, Sarah 1 ; WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
CS: WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
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