Sunday, March 7
Woodstock, Ga.
9:00 AM
Liberty University
7-3
0
vs
7
Kentucky
14-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 |
Liberty Falls to No. 23 Kentucky
3/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 23 Wildcats handed Liberty its first loss of the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic, Sunday morning, taking a 7-0 victory. The Lady Flames finished the tournament with a 4-1 record, after defeating Dartmouth, Kennesaw State, Akron and Rhode Island on Friday and Saturday.
At the conclusion of the tournament, the Lady Flames were fourth out of 22 teams in the overall standings. Georgia Tech finished first.
Liberty now sits at 7-3 on the year, which marks the first time since 2007 that the Lady Flames have won seven of their first 10 games. The 2007 squad went on to finish 36-26 and tie for first in the Big South.
The Wildcats jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Molly Johnson kicked it off with a line-drive homer down the left field line, and Megan Yocke, who walked, scored when Brittany Cervantes grounded out.
Ashley Bensinger recorded Liberty's first hit of the game in the top of the second, reaching on a one-out single through the left side. But she was stranded at first after Amber DePasquale struck out and Keely McMillon grounded out to the pitcher.
The Wildcats upped their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring three more runs on three hits and one Liberty error.
Samantha DeMartine recorded the second consecutive leadoff homer for the Wildcats, pushing the score to 3-0 in Kentucky's favor. After Destinee Mordecai grounded out to shortstop, Annie Rowlands singled through the left side. On the next play, moved to third when Johnson's deep pop fly to center field popped out of DePasquale's glove, putting runners on the second and third with one out.
Yocke was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Natalie Smith tripled to right center, bringing in Rowlands and Johnson, but pinch runner Jennifer Young was thrown out at home, and Kentucky had a 5-0 lead.
The bottom of the fifth inning brought two unearned runs for Kentucky after a wild pitch and a Liberty error, pushing the score to 7-0.
The Lady Flames put a runner on in the top of the sixth, when Cassie Hendrix singled up the middle, extending her hitting streak to four games, the second-longest on the team behind Kelly Strickland (five games). But Hendrix couldn't advance, as Howard struck out looking and Jenny Law flied out to center field.
Strickland belted a one-out single to left field in the top of the seventh, but Liberty's offense couldn't ignite, and Kentucky walked away with a 7-0 victory.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 14-5 on the year.
Bensinger, Hendrix and Strickland each recorded one hit for Liberty, while Smith was 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Kentucky.
Pitcher Katrina Johnson (1-1) took the loss in the circle, giving up two hits and striking out one batter in one complete inning. Reliever Katie Warrington threw four innings, giving up five hits and striking out four batters.
Chanda Bell (8-2) picked up the win, giving up three hits and striking out 10 batters in the complete-game shutout.
Strickland was named to the Buzz Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Flames have a day off tomorrow, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. Liberty will take on the No. 8 Crimson Tide of Alabama in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
At the conclusion of the tournament, the Lady Flames were fourth out of 22 teams in the overall standings. Georgia Tech finished first.
Liberty now sits at 7-3 on the year, which marks the first time since 2007 that the Lady Flames have won seven of their first 10 games. The 2007 squad went on to finish 36-26 and tie for first in the Big South.
The Wildcats jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Molly Johnson kicked it off with a line-drive homer down the left field line, and Megan Yocke, who walked, scored when Brittany Cervantes grounded out.
Ashley Bensinger recorded Liberty's first hit of the game in the top of the second, reaching on a one-out single through the left side. But she was stranded at first after Amber DePasquale struck out and Keely McMillon grounded out to the pitcher.
The Wildcats upped their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second, scoring three more runs on three hits and one Liberty error.
Samantha DeMartine recorded the second consecutive leadoff homer for the Wildcats, pushing the score to 3-0 in Kentucky's favor. After Destinee Mordecai grounded out to shortstop, Annie Rowlands singled through the left side. On the next play, moved to third when Johnson's deep pop fly to center field popped out of DePasquale's glove, putting runners on the second and third with one out.
Yocke was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Natalie Smith tripled to right center, bringing in Rowlands and Johnson, but pinch runner Jennifer Young was thrown out at home, and Kentucky had a 5-0 lead.
The bottom of the fifth inning brought two unearned runs for Kentucky after a wild pitch and a Liberty error, pushing the score to 7-0.
The Lady Flames put a runner on in the top of the sixth, when Cassie Hendrix singled up the middle, extending her hitting streak to four games, the second-longest on the team behind Kelly Strickland (five games). But Hendrix couldn't advance, as Howard struck out looking and Jenny Law flied out to center field.
Strickland belted a one-out single to left field in the top of the seventh, but Liberty's offense couldn't ignite, and Kentucky walked away with a 7-0 victory.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 14-5 on the year.
Bensinger, Hendrix and Strickland each recorded one hit for Liberty, while Smith was 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Kentucky.
Pitcher Katrina Johnson (1-1) took the loss in the circle, giving up two hits and striking out one batter in one complete inning. Reliever Katie Warrington threw four innings, giving up five hits and striking out four batters.
Chanda Bell (8-2) picked up the win, giving up three hits and striking out 10 batters in the complete-game shutout.
Strickland was named to the Buzz Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Flames have a day off tomorrow, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. Liberty will take on the No. 8 Crimson Tide of Alabama in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chanda Bell (8-2)
L: Johnson, Katrina (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Annie Rowlands 1
3B: Natalie Smith 1
HR: Molly Johnson 1 ; Samantha DeMartine 1
RBI: Molly Johnson 1 ; Natalie Smith 2 ; Brittany Cervantes 1 ; Samantha DeMartine 1
SH: Meagan Aull 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Molly Johnson 2 ; Megan Yocke 1 ; Natalie Smith 1 ; Alice O'Brien 1 ; Samantha DeMartine 1 ; Annie Rowlands 1
SB: Alice O'Brien 1
CS: Molly Johnson 1
HBP: Megan Yocke 1 ; Alice O'Brien 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
lf/3b
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
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