Friday, February 19
Spartanburg, S.C.
5:00 PM
Liberty University
1-1
12
vs
11
Eastern Kentucky
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Eastern Kentucky
0
0
0
0
3
5
0
3
11
6
3
Liberty
0
0
0
3
0
5
0
4
12
11
2
Liberty Edges Colonels in Extra-Inning Win
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In a game where both teams switched off taking the lead, the Lady Flames were able to fend off the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky 12-11 in eight innings, Friday night, in Spartanburg, S.C. The game was Liberty's first of the USC Campus Suites Spartan Classic.
The Liberty defense got in trouble early. In the top of the first, leadoff batter Diane Gallagher reached on a grounder to pitcher Tiffani Smith, which first baseman Kaylee West bobbled. Gallagher then stole second, and Larkyn Wood struck out swinging.
Raquel Howes reached when she was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out.
But Smith turned up the heat, striking out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
After a three-up, three-down Liberty at-bat, the Colonels put a runner on when Noelani Esperas led off the top of the second with a walk. But Smith turned it on again, throwing three straight strikeouts.
After two hitless innings, Cassie Hendrix recorded the first Liberty hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a two-out double to left. But leadoff batter Jenny Law fouled out to first base to end the inning, and the game remained scoreless going into the top of the fourth.
Liberty came up big in the bottom of the fourth, taking a three-run lead thanks to home runs from J'nae Jefferson and West.
The Colonels followed up with a big inning of their own in the top of the fifth, recording three hits and scoring three runs to tie it up, 3-3. Nikki Bruce led off with a single to left center, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Samm Daniels.
No. 9 batter Aimee Spathias walked, and leadoff hitter Gallagher flied out to left for the second out. Wood then walked to load the bases, and Howes drove in two runs with a single to center field. The Colonels kept hitting, as Jena Handley singled to left to bring in Wood, tying the game.
The Lady Flames tried to regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Ashley Bensinger led off with a walk. Pinch runner Jenna Eatmon then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hendrix, and moved to third on a Law ground out. Amber DePasquale connected, sending a short fly ball into right field, but Spathias made the play to end the inning, and the game stayed tied up at 3-3 going into the sixth.
Eastern Kentucky took the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs to go ahead, 8-3. The Colonels loaded the bases with no outs after Esperas walked and Bruce and Christina Datko reached on infield bunts. Relief pitcher Kat Johnson then recorded her first collegiate strikeout, fanning Spathias for the first out of the inning.
But trouble followed, and Eastern Kentucky was able to score five runs on two hits and a Liberty error to take the lead.
The Lady Flames stormed back in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Kelly Strickland reached on an infield single, and advanced to third on two passed balls. West walked, and Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice by the shortstop. On that play, pinch runner Bridgett Woods was safe at second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Designated player Meredith Baisden walked to load the bases with one out.
Then, catcher Bensinger stepped up to rip a double down the left-field line, driving in Woods and Howard, with Baisden moving to third. Hendrix continued the rally, tapping a single up the middle to bring in Baisden, making the score 8-7.
Law kept the one-out streak going with a single to shortstop, advancing Hendrix to third and scoring Bensinger to tie the game, 8-all.
On the next play, DePasquale reached on a fielder's choice, and Hendrix was thrown out at third for the second out.
On a full count with two outs, Jefferson took ball four to load the bases once again, bringing up Strickland. But she grounded out to the pitcher, sending the game into the seventh inning with an 8-8 score.
Horswill was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, prompting Liberty Head Coach Paul Wetmore to bring in freshman Katie Warrington in relief.
Warrington struck out Esperas for the first out, bringing up pinch hitter Ashley Dollins. Dollins drew a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out.
Warrington then stepped up with a big strikeout, sending Datko back to the dugout for out No. 2. Spathias then hit a grounder to shortstop Strickland, who made the force out at second for the third out.
West led off the bottom of the seventh by busting a double to left field. Howard then drew four straight balls for the walk, bringing up designated hitter Baisden, who advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
With one out and runners on second and third, Bensinger walked to load the bases for Hendrix.
Then, Esperas came back from a 3-0 count to strike her out, bringing up leadoff batter Law with two outs. Law hit a grounder that bounced off the pitcher's glove and was fielded by the shortstop, who tossed it to second for the force out, sending the game into extra innings.
With Spathias on second, Gallagher walked, and Wood advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Howes then walked to load the bases with one out, and Handley doubled to right center, bringing in three runs and giving the Colonels an 11-8 lead. Jefferson caught a liner from Horswill, and tossed it to Hendrix at second for the double play to end the inning.
The Lady Flames came up to bat in the bottom of the eight with Law on second and DePasquale at the plate.
After DePasquale struck out swinging, Jefferson walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Strickland then dropped a blooper into shallow right field, loading the bases. West then hit a sacrifice fly to right center field, scoring Law and bringing the Lady Flames within two runs. Howard then walked to load the bases, bringing up Baisden. With a full count, Esperas threw ball four to walk in a run, making the score 11-10.
Bensinger then stepped up to the plate and ripped a game-winning single up the middle, as Jefferson and Strickland scored for the 12-11 Liberty win.
Bensinger led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored, while West was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Smith led all pitchers with 11 strikeouts in five complete innings.
The Colonels were led by Handley, who was 3-for-5 with six RBIs, while pitcher Esperas gave up 10 hits and struck out three.
Warrington (1-0) picked up her first career win in the circle, while Esperas (0-1) took the loss.
Liberty improves to 1-1 on the year, while Eastern Kentucky drops to 0-1.
The Lady Flames are back in action tomorrow as the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic.
Liberty will face UMBC at 3 p.m., followed by a matchup against host USC Upstate at 5 p.m. to conclude round-robin play.
The Liberty defense got in trouble early. In the top of the first, leadoff batter Diane Gallagher reached on a grounder to pitcher Tiffani Smith, which first baseman Kaylee West bobbled. Gallagher then stole second, and Larkyn Wood struck out swinging.
Raquel Howes reached when she was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out.
But Smith turned up the heat, striking out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
After a three-up, three-down Liberty at-bat, the Colonels put a runner on when Noelani Esperas led off the top of the second with a walk. But Smith turned it on again, throwing three straight strikeouts.
After two hitless innings, Cassie Hendrix recorded the first Liberty hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a two-out double to left. But leadoff batter Jenny Law fouled out to first base to end the inning, and the game remained scoreless going into the top of the fourth.
Liberty came up big in the bottom of the fourth, taking a three-run lead thanks to home runs from J'nae Jefferson and West.
The Colonels followed up with a big inning of their own in the top of the fifth, recording three hits and scoring three runs to tie it up, 3-3. Nikki Bruce led off with a single to left center, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Samm Daniels.
No. 9 batter Aimee Spathias walked, and leadoff hitter Gallagher flied out to left for the second out. Wood then walked to load the bases, and Howes drove in two runs with a single to center field. The Colonels kept hitting, as Jena Handley singled to left to bring in Wood, tying the game.
The Lady Flames tried to regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Ashley Bensinger led off with a walk. Pinch runner Jenna Eatmon then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hendrix, and moved to third on a Law ground out. Amber DePasquale connected, sending a short fly ball into right field, but Spathias made the play to end the inning, and the game stayed tied up at 3-3 going into the sixth.
Eastern Kentucky took the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs to go ahead, 8-3. The Colonels loaded the bases with no outs after Esperas walked and Bruce and Christina Datko reached on infield bunts. Relief pitcher Kat Johnson then recorded her first collegiate strikeout, fanning Spathias for the first out of the inning.
But trouble followed, and Eastern Kentucky was able to score five runs on two hits and a Liberty error to take the lead.
The Lady Flames stormed back in the bottom of the sixth with one out. Kelly Strickland reached on an infield single, and advanced to third on two passed balls. West walked, and Danielle Howard reached on a fielder's choice by the shortstop. On that play, pinch runner Bridgett Woods was safe at second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Designated player Meredith Baisden walked to load the bases with one out.
Then, catcher Bensinger stepped up to rip a double down the left-field line, driving in Woods and Howard, with Baisden moving to third. Hendrix continued the rally, tapping a single up the middle to bring in Baisden, making the score 8-7.
Law kept the one-out streak going with a single to shortstop, advancing Hendrix to third and scoring Bensinger to tie the game, 8-all.
On the next play, DePasquale reached on a fielder's choice, and Hendrix was thrown out at third for the second out.
On a full count with two outs, Jefferson took ball four to load the bases once again, bringing up Strickland. But she grounded out to the pitcher, sending the game into the seventh inning with an 8-8 score.
Horswill was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, prompting Liberty Head Coach Paul Wetmore to bring in freshman Katie Warrington in relief.
Warrington struck out Esperas for the first out, bringing up pinch hitter Ashley Dollins. Dollins drew a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out.
Warrington then stepped up with a big strikeout, sending Datko back to the dugout for out No. 2. Spathias then hit a grounder to shortstop Strickland, who made the force out at second for the third out.
West led off the bottom of the seventh by busting a double to left field. Howard then drew four straight balls for the walk, bringing up designated hitter Baisden, who advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
With one out and runners on second and third, Bensinger walked to load the bases for Hendrix.
Then, Esperas came back from a 3-0 count to strike her out, bringing up leadoff batter Law with two outs. Law hit a grounder that bounced off the pitcher's glove and was fielded by the shortstop, who tossed it to second for the force out, sending the game into extra innings.
With Spathias on second, Gallagher walked, and Wood advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Howes then walked to load the bases with one out, and Handley doubled to right center, bringing in three runs and giving the Colonels an 11-8 lead. Jefferson caught a liner from Horswill, and tossed it to Hendrix at second for the double play to end the inning.
The Lady Flames came up to bat in the bottom of the eight with Law on second and DePasquale at the plate.
After DePasquale struck out swinging, Jefferson walked to put runners on first and second with one out. Strickland then dropped a blooper into shallow right field, loading the bases. West then hit a sacrifice fly to right center field, scoring Law and bringing the Lady Flames within two runs. Howard then walked to load the bases, bringing up Baisden. With a full count, Esperas threw ball four to walk in a run, making the score 11-10.
Bensinger then stepped up to the plate and ripped a game-winning single up the middle, as Jefferson and Strickland scored for the 12-11 Liberty win.
Bensinger led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored, while West was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Smith led all pitchers with 11 strikeouts in five complete innings.
The Colonels were led by Handley, who was 3-for-5 with six RBIs, while pitcher Esperas gave up 10 hits and struck out three.
Warrington (1-0) picked up her first career win in the circle, while Esperas (0-1) took the loss.
Liberty improves to 1-1 on the year, while Eastern Kentucky drops to 0-1.
The Lady Flames are back in action tomorrow as the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic.
Liberty will face UMBC at 3 p.m., followed by a matchup against host USC Upstate at 5 p.m. to conclude round-robin play.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Warrington, Katie (1-0)
L: ESPERAS, Noelani (0-1)
Batting:
2B: HANDLEY, Jena 1
RBI: GALLAGHER, Diane 1 ; HOWES, Raquel 3 ; HANDLEY, Jena 6
SH: WOOD, Larkyn 1 ; DATKO, Christina 1 ; DANIELS, Samm 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GALLAGHER, Diane 2 ; WOOD, Larkyn 2 ; HOWES, Raquel 1 ; ESPERAS, Noelani 1 ; BRUCE, Nikki 2 ; DATKO, Christina 1 ; SPATHIAS, Aimee 2
SB: GALLAGHER, Diane 2 ; ESPERAS, Noelani 1
CS: COASTA, Melissa 1
HBP: WOOD, Larkyn 1 ; HOWES, Raquel 1 ; HORSWILL, DeAnn 1
Batting:
2B: West, Kaylee 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
HR: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
RBI: Law, Jenny 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; West, Kaylee 3 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 4 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SH: Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SF: West, Kaylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Law, Jenny 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 3 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Howard, Danielle 2 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Liberty Softball: The Greatest Victory
Thursday, December 11
Coach Richardson, Elena Escobar & Rachel Roupe Talk About The Game Against Oregon
Sunday, May 25
Coach Richardson, Rachel Roupe & Paige Doerr Talk About The Game Against Oregon
Saturday, May 24
Lady Flames Softball Podcast: Breaking Down Liberty vs. Oregon, Rachel Roupe Drafted and More!
Thursday, May 22