Liberty University
3-2
Eastern Kentucky
0-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Liberty | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
LU Concludes Spartan Classic with 3-2 Win
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Danielle Howard hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Lady Flames defeated the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky, 3-2, to conclude the USC Campus Suites Spartan Classic in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Colonels jumped on the board in the top of the first on a close play. Leadoff hitter Diane Gallagher singled to left, then stole two bases. After Larkyn Wood struck out swinging, Raquel Howes grounded out to shortstop. First basemen Kaylee West then tossed it home, and Ashley Bensinger laid down the tag, but Gallagher was called safe, and Eastern Kentucky took a 1-0 lead.
But the Lady Flames didn't stay behind for long. In the bottom of the first, they put two runs on the board to take a 2-1 lead. With one out, Howard drew a walk, then advanced to second when J'nae Jefferson singled to left. Kelly Strickland then walked to load the bases, and West hit a long ball to deep center field that was caught, but was deep enough to allow Howard to tag up and score to tie it up. Jefferson was then able to score on a wild pitch to give the Lady Flames a 2-1 advantage.
The Colonels tied it up, 2-2, in the top of the fourth, when Howes scored from second on a double by Jena Handley. Eastern Kentucky threatened to take the lead, loading the bases, but a runner's interference call ended the half-inning.
Amber DePasquale ripped a single to left to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Bridgett Woods. But she stayed stranded, and the game moved into the sixth inning.
Jefferson singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and moved to second when West drew a walk with one out. But Jefferson was forced out at third on a grounder by Ashley Bensinger, and the game stayed tied.
Tiffani Smith relieved Liberty starting pitcher Kat Johnson in the bottom of the second. Smith struck out two straight batters before Christina Datko popped out to third, sending the game into the bottom of the seventh.
DePasquale singled up the middle to lead off, and Howard stepped up with a big double to left for the game-winning RBI.
The Lady Flames (3-2) finish the tournament with a 3-1 record and a third-place finish.
The Colonels drop to 0-4 on the year.
Howard was 2-for-3 for the Lady Flames, driving in a run. West drove in the other run, while Jefferson and DePasquale both batted 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Eastern Kentucky was led by Howes, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Tiffani Smith picked up the win in the circle, improving to 2-2, while Esperas (0-2) took the loss.
Starter Johnson pitched six complete innings in her first collegiate start, giving up three hits and striking out five batters.
Bensinger and West were named to the 2010 USC Spartan Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Flames are back in action on March 5, kicking off the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga. Liberty is scheduled to play Dartmouth at 1 p.m., followed by a matchup with Kennesaw State at 5 p.m.
All-Tournament Team
Lauren Brummell, UMBC (MVP)
Amanda Fefel, UMBC
Stephanie Weigman, UMBC
Malorie Weller, UMBC
Morgan Childers, USC Upstate
Ericka Harris, USC Upstate
Katie Zauner, USC Upstate
Ashley Bensinger, Liberty
Kaylee West, Liberty
Jena Handley, EKU
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (2-1)
L: ESPERAS, Noelani (0-2)
Batting:
2B: HANDLEY, Jena 1
RBI: HOWES, Raquel 1 ; HANDLEY, Jena 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GALLAGHER, Diane 1 ; HOWES, Raquel 1
SB: GALLAGHER, Diane 2 ; HOWES, Raquel 1 ; DATKO, Christina 1
Batting:
2B: Howard, Danielle 1
RBI: Howard, Danielle 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
SH: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1
SF: West, Kaylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Danielle 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1
SB: Howard, Danielle 1
