Saturday, February 20
Spartanburg, S.C.
3:00 PM
Liberty University
1-2
0
vs
5
UMBC
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UMBC
1
0
1
0
2
0
1
5
7
1
Liberty
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
Lady Flames Fall to Retrievers, 5-0
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Retrievers outhit the Lady Flames, 7-4, en route to a 5-0 victory in the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic, Saturday afternoon, in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Retrievers took an early 1-0 lead when they put a run on the board in the top of the first. Lauren Brummell led off with a walk, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She then scored when Julia Culotta grounded out to the pitcher.
UMBC was able to extend its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third. Jessica Vetock led off with a walk, and after Brummell flied out, advanced to third when Malorie Weller hit a gapper to left center. Amanda Fefel drew a walk, and Vetock crossed the plate when Culotta grounded out to shortstop. The Retrievers stranded two runners when Emily Thompson lined out to first baseman Kaylee West.
The Lady Flames' offense struggled to ignite, as Liberty faced starting pitcher Stephanie Weigman. Weigman, UMBC's top returning pitcher, broke single-season records in wins (22), strikeouts (293) and complete games (30) for the Retrievers in 2009 as a sophomore.
But catcher Ashley Bensinger recorded the first Liberty hit of the game with a hard-hit liner that dropped into left field, advancing Kaylee West to second, who reached after being hit by a pitch. On the next play, pinch runner Bridgett Woods and Bensinger advanced on a sacrifice bunt from designated hitter Meredith Baisden. But the runners couldn't score, as Amber DePasquale grounded out to third to send the game into the fifth inning.
The Retrievers doubled their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fifth, leading off with back-to-back doubles from Brummer and Weller. Weller then scored on a deep sacrifice fly to right by Fefel.
Liberty's bats woke up in the bottom of the sixth when Strickland singled through the left side with one out. Then, with two outs, Bensinger recorded her second hit of the day, ripping a double to right center field, moving Strickland to third. But Baisden struck out swinging, and the game moved into the final inning with the Retrievers maintaining a 4-0 advantage.
UMBC tacked another run on in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and the bases loaded, Weller scored on a wild pitch to bring the score to 5-0.
Pinch hitter Lauren Trentham belted a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh for her first collegiate hit, but the Lady Flames couldn't get any momentum going, and the game ended with a 5-0 score in favor of the Retrievers.
The Lady Flames were led by Bensinger, who batted 2-for-3. Weller was 4-for-4 for UMBC, driving in a run.
Liberty pitcher Katie Warrington (1-1) took the loss in the circle in her first complete-game appearance as a Lady Flame. Weigman (2-0) picked up the win.
Liberty drops to 1-2 on the year, while UMBC improves to 2-1.
After a short break, the Lady Flames conclude round-robin play in the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic by taking on the host team, USC Upstate, later this evening.
The Retrievers took an early 1-0 lead when they put a run on the board in the top of the first. Lauren Brummell led off with a walk, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She then scored when Julia Culotta grounded out to the pitcher.
UMBC was able to extend its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third. Jessica Vetock led off with a walk, and after Brummell flied out, advanced to third when Malorie Weller hit a gapper to left center. Amanda Fefel drew a walk, and Vetock crossed the plate when Culotta grounded out to shortstop. The Retrievers stranded two runners when Emily Thompson lined out to first baseman Kaylee West.
The Lady Flames' offense struggled to ignite, as Liberty faced starting pitcher Stephanie Weigman. Weigman, UMBC's top returning pitcher, broke single-season records in wins (22), strikeouts (293) and complete games (30) for the Retrievers in 2009 as a sophomore.
But catcher Ashley Bensinger recorded the first Liberty hit of the game with a hard-hit liner that dropped into left field, advancing Kaylee West to second, who reached after being hit by a pitch. On the next play, pinch runner Bridgett Woods and Bensinger advanced on a sacrifice bunt from designated hitter Meredith Baisden. But the runners couldn't score, as Amber DePasquale grounded out to third to send the game into the fifth inning.
The Retrievers doubled their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fifth, leading off with back-to-back doubles from Brummer and Weller. Weller then scored on a deep sacrifice fly to right by Fefel.
Liberty's bats woke up in the bottom of the sixth when Strickland singled through the left side with one out. Then, with two outs, Bensinger recorded her second hit of the day, ripping a double to right center field, moving Strickland to third. But Baisden struck out swinging, and the game moved into the final inning with the Retrievers maintaining a 4-0 advantage.
UMBC tacked another run on in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and the bases loaded, Weller scored on a wild pitch to bring the score to 5-0.
Pinch hitter Lauren Trentham belted a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh for her first collegiate hit, but the Lady Flames couldn't get any momentum going, and the game ended with a 5-0 score in favor of the Retrievers.
The Lady Flames were led by Bensinger, who batted 2-for-3. Weller was 4-for-4 for UMBC, driving in a run.
Liberty pitcher Katie Warrington (1-1) took the loss in the circle in her first complete-game appearance as a Lady Flame. Weigman (2-0) picked up the win.
Liberty drops to 1-2 on the year, while UMBC improves to 2-1.
After a short break, the Lady Flames conclude round-robin play in the USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic by taking on the host team, USC Upstate, later this evening.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Weigman, Stephanie (2-0)
L: Warrington, Katie (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Brummell, Lauren 1 ; Weller, Malorie 2
RBI: Weller, Malorie 1 ; Fefel, Amanda 1 ; Culotta, Julia 2
SH: Yannone, Angela 1
SF: Fefel, Amanda 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brummell, Lauren 2 ; Weller, Malorie 2 ; Vetock, Jessica 1
HBP: Culotta, Julia 1
Batting:
2B: Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Trentham, Lauren 1
SH: Baisden, Meredith 1
Base Running:
SB: Howard, Danielle 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
HBP: West, Kaylee 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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