Thursday, March 18
Radford, Va.
5:00 PM
Liberty University
12-8, 0
6
at
7
Radford
9-8, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
| Radford | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | X | 7 | 11 | 1 |
Radford Edges Liberty in Game 2, 7-6
3/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In a game where both teams traded the lead three times, the Radford Highlanders managed to hold on and edge the Liberty Lady Flames, 7-6, to complete the sweep in a conference doubleheader, Thursday afternoon.
Radford won Game 1 by a score of 8-2.
The Highlanders struck first when Nichole Beall hit a solo homer to left-center field in the bottom of the first, giving Radford an early 1-0 lead.
Radford added another run with one swing in the bottom of the second, when Hope Creasy led off by lining a homer to left field. Things got worse for Liberty, as the Highlanders then loaded the bases with only one out. But starting hurler Tiffani Smith got out of the jam, forcing out pinch runner Jessica Agee at home before fanning Nichole Beall, and the score remained 2-0.
The Lady Flames took a one-run lead by scoring three runs in the top of the third, highlighted by Cassie Hendrix's first career homer, a two-run shot over the center field fence. Leadoff batter J'nae Jefferson then reached on a fielding error by Radford shortstop Kristen Shifflett, and came around to score when Ashley Bensinger singled to left field.
Radford threatened to regain a lead in the bottom of the third. After Sarah Himan led off with a double to deep center field, she moved to third when Shannon Keefe singled on a pop fly that dropped between a handful of Liberty infielders. With runners on second and third with no outs, Smith settled in, as Creasy fouled out to first base, and Agee and Michelle Beall struck out.
The Lady Flames put pressure on the Radford defense in the top of the fourth. With one-out, Keely McMillon singled up the middle. With two outs, Jenna Eatmon singled through the right side. Then, Hendrix continued her successful outing with a double to left center, scoring pinch runner Bridgett Woods. Eatmon tried to score on the play, but was thrown out on a close play at the plate, sending the game into the bottom of the fourth, 4-2 Liberty.
But the Highlanders answered during their next at-bat, scoring three runs on two hits to take a 5-4 lead. With two outs, Shifflett singled up the middle, and Nichole Beall was hit by a pitch. Himan then walked to load the bases, and Shannon Keefe doubled down the left field line to drive in three runs.
The Lady Flames lit up the scoreboard once again in the top of the fifth, scoring two more runs to regain the lead at 6-5. Jefferson and Jenny Law reached on back-to-back singles, and Bensinger drove them both home with a double down the left field line.
The Highlanders fired right back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to take a 6-5 lead.
Liberty couldn't connect in the top of the sixth, as Radford relief pitcher Chelsea Kelley fanned three straight batters.
The Lady Flames threatened to regain the lead once again in the top of the seventh. Jefferson led off with a single to left, and moved to third on a double by Law. Bensinger then fouled out to the third baseman, and the Highlanders intentionally walked Strickland to load the bases with one out.
But Liberty couldn't find another hit, as DePasquale struck out swinging and McMillon grounded out to third to end the game, 7-6.
Hendrix led Liberty offensively, batting 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs, while Bensinger was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Keefe paced the Highlanders, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Kelley (7-3) picked up her second win of the day, giving up five hits and two earned runs while fanning four batters in three complete innings of work.
Warrington (5-3) took the loss, giving up five hits and striking out two in two complete innings, while Smith threw four innings, giving up six hits and striking out five Radford batters.
Liberty drops to 12-8 overall and 0-2 in Big South play, while Radford improves to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
The two teams will square off again in a single game, Tuesday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field, for a single game starting at 2 p.m.
The Lady Flames are back in action this weekend, traveling to Greensboro, N.C. for a single game against North Carolina A&T on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Radford won Game 1 by a score of 8-2.
The Highlanders struck first when Nichole Beall hit a solo homer to left-center field in the bottom of the first, giving Radford an early 1-0 lead.
Radford added another run with one swing in the bottom of the second, when Hope Creasy led off by lining a homer to left field. Things got worse for Liberty, as the Highlanders then loaded the bases with only one out. But starting hurler Tiffani Smith got out of the jam, forcing out pinch runner Jessica Agee at home before fanning Nichole Beall, and the score remained 2-0.
The Lady Flames took a one-run lead by scoring three runs in the top of the third, highlighted by Cassie Hendrix's first career homer, a two-run shot over the center field fence. Leadoff batter J'nae Jefferson then reached on a fielding error by Radford shortstop Kristen Shifflett, and came around to score when Ashley Bensinger singled to left field.
Radford threatened to regain a lead in the bottom of the third. After Sarah Himan led off with a double to deep center field, she moved to third when Shannon Keefe singled on a pop fly that dropped between a handful of Liberty infielders. With runners on second and third with no outs, Smith settled in, as Creasy fouled out to first base, and Agee and Michelle Beall struck out.
The Lady Flames put pressure on the Radford defense in the top of the fourth. With one-out, Keely McMillon singled up the middle. With two outs, Jenna Eatmon singled through the right side. Then, Hendrix continued her successful outing with a double to left center, scoring pinch runner Bridgett Woods. Eatmon tried to score on the play, but was thrown out on a close play at the plate, sending the game into the bottom of the fourth, 4-2 Liberty.
But the Highlanders answered during their next at-bat, scoring three runs on two hits to take a 5-4 lead. With two outs, Shifflett singled up the middle, and Nichole Beall was hit by a pitch. Himan then walked to load the bases, and Shannon Keefe doubled down the left field line to drive in three runs.
The Lady Flames lit up the scoreboard once again in the top of the fifth, scoring two more runs to regain the lead at 6-5. Jefferson and Jenny Law reached on back-to-back singles, and Bensinger drove them both home with a double down the left field line.
The Highlanders fired right back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to take a 6-5 lead.
Liberty couldn't connect in the top of the sixth, as Radford relief pitcher Chelsea Kelley fanned three straight batters.
The Lady Flames threatened to regain the lead once again in the top of the seventh. Jefferson led off with a single to left, and moved to third on a double by Law. Bensinger then fouled out to the third baseman, and the Highlanders intentionally walked Strickland to load the bases with one out.
But Liberty couldn't find another hit, as DePasquale struck out swinging and McMillon grounded out to third to end the game, 7-6.
Hendrix led Liberty offensively, batting 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs, while Bensinger was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Keefe paced the Highlanders, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Kelley (7-3) picked up her second win of the day, giving up five hits and two earned runs while fanning four batters in three complete innings of work.
Warrington (5-3) took the loss, giving up five hits and striking out two in two complete innings, while Smith threw four innings, giving up six hits and striking out five Radford batters.
Liberty drops to 12-8 overall and 0-2 in Big South play, while Radford improves to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in the conference.
The two teams will square off again in a single game, Tuesday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field, for a single game starting at 2 p.m.
The Lady Flames are back in action this weekend, traveling to Greensboro, N.C. for a single game against North Carolina A&T on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KELLEY, Chelsea (7-3)
L: Warrington, Katie (5-3)
Batting:
2B: Law, Jenny 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
HR: Hendrix, Cassie 1
RBI: Bensinger, Ashley 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 3
SH: Law, Jenny 1
SF: Strickland, Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 2 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
Batting:
2B: HIMAN, Sarah 2 ; KEEFE, Shannon 1 ; BEALL, Michelle 1
HR: BEALL, Nichole 1 ; CREASY, Hope 1
RBI: BEALL, Nichole 1 ; KEEFE, Shannon 3 ; CREASY, Hope 1 ; WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; BEALL, Nichole 2 ; HIMAN, Sarah 1 ; CREASY, Hope 1 ; BEALL, Michelle 1 ; WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
SB: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; MADDEN, Vicki 1
HBP: BEALL, Nichole 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
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