Saturday, March 20
Greensboro, N.C.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
13-8
12
at
3
North Carolina A&T
8-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 0 |
| NC A&T | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 6 |
Lady Flames Rip Season-High 16 Hits in Win
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames recorded a season-high 16 hits, en route to a 12-3 win over North Carolina A&T, Saturday afternoon, in Greensboro, N.C.
Kaylee West, who went 4-for-5, also tied a program best with her four hits in the contest. The last time a Lady Flame recorded four hits in a single game was on April 20, 2008, when Beth Bennett went 4-for-4 in an 8-6 loss to Radford at home.
The Lady Flames jumped ahead early, scoring three runs on four hits with two outs in the top of the first. Ashley Bensinger started the rally by drawing a walk, and then scored from first on a double to deep left center by Kelly Strickland, who advanced to third on the throw. Amber DePasquale followed up with an infield single that dropped in front of first baseman Bianca Alsobrook, scoring Strickland to give the Lady Flames a 2-0 lead.
The rally continued when West singled through the left side, and Bridgett Woods singled to left to load the bases. Meredith Baisden then drew a walk to bring in the third run for a 3-0 advantage.
The Aggies put pressure on Liberty starting pitcher Kat Johnson in the bottom of the second, putting runners on the corners with one out. But Johnson kept her composure, fanning two straight batters to get out of the inning.
The A&T defense had problems in the top of the fourth, as two Aggie errors contributed to seven Liberty runs on six hits, giving the Lady Flames a 10-0 advantage.
With one out, Bensinger reached on a throwing error by relief pitcher Sasha Philpot, and advanced to third on another throwing mistake, this one by center fielder Kellie Aponte, when Strickland singled. Amber DePasquale then walked to load the bases.
West drove in her first run of the day on the next play, roping a liner to left field, allowing Bensinger to score. With the bases still loaded, Woods drew a walk to bring in another run, and Meredith Baisden dropped a single into right field for an RBI to make the score 6-0 in Liberty's favor.
With two outs in the same inning, J'nae Jefferson and Jenny Law recorded back-to-back doubles to left center. Jefferson's hit brought in three more runs, and she crossed the plate on Law's shot, giving the Lady Flames a commanding 10-0 advantage.
The Aggies were able to put runners in scoring position with two hits and only one out in the bottom of the fourth. But Channing Statham grounded out to pitcher Johnson and Aponte struck out swinging to end the innings.
A&T stopped the game from ending early in the bottom of the fifth, when the offense recorded four hits to score three runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Alsobrook.
Errors once again hurt the Aggies in the top of the seventh. With one out, Bensinger singled up the middle, and was safe at second on a fielder's choice by Strickland due to a muffed throw by second baseman Bullock. Both runners scored when West doubled to center field, extending the Lady Flames' lead to 12-3 heading into the Aggies' final at-bat.
Relief pitcher Tiffani Smith fanned two batters and caused Hope Fletcher to ground out, sealing the 12-3 victory for the Lady Flames.
West led Liberty, while Strickland batted 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored, and Bensinger was 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Baisden was 1-for-2 and drove in two runs.
The Aggies were led by Alsobrook, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Johnson (2-2) picked up the win in the circle, giving up eight hits and striking out five batters in 4 1/3 innings of work, while Smith gave up one hit and struck out five in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
Philpot (4-3) gave up 11 hits in six complete innings, and struck out three Liberty batters.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 13-8 overall, while the Aggies drop to 8-7 on the year.
Liberty is back in action on March 23 with its 2010 home opener at Liberty Softball Field. The Lady Flames will welcome the Radford Highlanders for a single game beginning at 2 p.m. The Highlanders swept Liberty, 8-2 and 7-6, in a doubleheader on Thursday in Radford, Va.
Kaylee West, who went 4-for-5, also tied a program best with her four hits in the contest. The last time a Lady Flame recorded four hits in a single game was on April 20, 2008, when Beth Bennett went 4-for-4 in an 8-6 loss to Radford at home.
The Lady Flames jumped ahead early, scoring three runs on four hits with two outs in the top of the first. Ashley Bensinger started the rally by drawing a walk, and then scored from first on a double to deep left center by Kelly Strickland, who advanced to third on the throw. Amber DePasquale followed up with an infield single that dropped in front of first baseman Bianca Alsobrook, scoring Strickland to give the Lady Flames a 2-0 lead.
The rally continued when West singled through the left side, and Bridgett Woods singled to left to load the bases. Meredith Baisden then drew a walk to bring in the third run for a 3-0 advantage.
The Aggies put pressure on Liberty starting pitcher Kat Johnson in the bottom of the second, putting runners on the corners with one out. But Johnson kept her composure, fanning two straight batters to get out of the inning.
The A&T defense had problems in the top of the fourth, as two Aggie errors contributed to seven Liberty runs on six hits, giving the Lady Flames a 10-0 advantage.
With one out, Bensinger reached on a throwing error by relief pitcher Sasha Philpot, and advanced to third on another throwing mistake, this one by center fielder Kellie Aponte, when Strickland singled. Amber DePasquale then walked to load the bases.
West drove in her first run of the day on the next play, roping a liner to left field, allowing Bensinger to score. With the bases still loaded, Woods drew a walk to bring in another run, and Meredith Baisden dropped a single into right field for an RBI to make the score 6-0 in Liberty's favor.
With two outs in the same inning, J'nae Jefferson and Jenny Law recorded back-to-back doubles to left center. Jefferson's hit brought in three more runs, and she crossed the plate on Law's shot, giving the Lady Flames a commanding 10-0 advantage.
The Aggies were able to put runners in scoring position with two hits and only one out in the bottom of the fourth. But Channing Statham grounded out to pitcher Johnson and Aponte struck out swinging to end the innings.
A&T stopped the game from ending early in the bottom of the fifth, when the offense recorded four hits to score three runs, highlighted by a two-run double by Alsobrook.
Errors once again hurt the Aggies in the top of the seventh. With one out, Bensinger singled up the middle, and was safe at second on a fielder's choice by Strickland due to a muffed throw by second baseman Bullock. Both runners scored when West doubled to center field, extending the Lady Flames' lead to 12-3 heading into the Aggies' final at-bat.
Relief pitcher Tiffani Smith fanned two batters and caused Hope Fletcher to ground out, sealing the 12-3 victory for the Lady Flames.
West led Liberty, while Strickland batted 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored, and Bensinger was 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Baisden was 1-for-2 and drove in two runs.
The Aggies were led by Alsobrook, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Johnson (2-2) picked up the win in the circle, giving up eight hits and striking out five batters in 4 1/3 innings of work, while Smith gave up one hit and struck out five in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
Philpot (4-3) gave up 11 hits in six complete innings, and struck out three Liberty batters.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 13-8 overall, while the Aggies drop to 8-7 on the year.
Liberty is back in action on March 23 with its 2010 home opener at Liberty Softball Field. The Lady Flames will welcome the Radford Highlanders for a single game beginning at 2 p.m. The Highlanders swept Liberty, 8-2 and 7-6, in a doubleheader on Thursday in Radford, Va.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Katrina (2-2)
L: PHILPOT,S (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
RBI: Jefferson, J'nae 3 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; West, Kaylee 3 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 2
SH: Baisden, Meredith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 3 ; Strickland, Kelly 3 ; DePasquale, Amber 2 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
Batting:
2B: ALSOBROOK,B 1
RBI: HILL,Ryanne 1 ; ALSOBROOK,B 2
Base Running:
RUNS: WHITE,Y 1 ; FLETCHER,H 1 ; HILL,Ryanne 1
SB: BULLOCK,L 1
HBP: LARSON,J 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
3
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
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