Tuesday, March 9
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
7-4
7
at
10
Alabama
15-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
| Alabama | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 10 | 6 | 0 |
No. 10 Alabama Hands Liberty 10-7 Loss
3/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Despite outhitting the Crimson Tide, 9-6, the Lady Flames dropped a 10-7 decision to No. 10 Alabama, Tuesday afternoon, at the Alabama Softball Complex in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Lady Flames posted a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. On Alabama's eighth pitch of the game, leadoff batter Danielle Howard ripped a home run over the left field wall to give Liberty an immediate 1-0 lead over the Crimson Tide.
Cleanup hitter Kelly Strickland followed suit two outs later, busting a solo shot to left center, pushing the score to 2-0. Starting pitcher Lauren Sewell had not given up a home run all year prior to that inning.
The Crimson Tide came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, when Liberty committed two defensive errors. Jazlyn Lunceford reached on a misplay by Strickland, then advanced to third when pitcher Katie Warrington made a throwing error. She then scored by tagging up when designated player Charlotte Morgan fouled out to right fielder Jenny Law.
The Lady Flames added a sizable five runs in the top of the second. With one out, Cassie Hendrix drew a walk, and then advanced to third when a passed ball bounced out of play. She then scored when Howard singled off the leg of relief pitcher Amanda Locke.
Law followed up with a single through the left side, and one out later, Strickland walked to load the bases. That's when designated player Ashley Bensinger stepped in the box and blasted her first career grand slam and first round tripper of the year with a bomb to left field, giving the Lady Flames a 7-1 lead.
The Liberty defense ran into trouble in the bottom of the second, and Alabama took advantage by batting around and scoring six runs to tie it up, 7-all. Those six runs were scored on two hits, with the remaining runners reaching base by either walking or being hit by a pitch.
Kayla Braud tripled to left to bring in two runs, and Morgan recorded the other hit, a single through the left side.
The third inning was a scoreless one for both teams, and in the bottom half of the inning relief pitcher Tiffani Smith fanned the first three batters in the order to send the game into the fourth inning still tied. At that point, the contest was suspended due to lightning, and resumed 45 minutes later.
The Crimson Tide offense heated up in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to take a 10-7 lead. With one out, Braud singled on a bunt down the third base line, and then stole second.
After Lunceford struck out, Cassie Reilly-Boccia singled to right field, and Braud crossed the plate to give Alabama a one-run edge. And Alabama did not stop there, as Morgan stepped up next and homered to right center field, giving the Crimson Tide a 10-7 lead going into the sixth inning.
The Lady Flames couldn't find an offensive groove in their final two at-bats, and Alabama walked away with the 10-7 win.
Liberty was led by Howard, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Bensinger drove in four runs with her second-inning grand slam. Strickland extended her hitting streak to six games with her home run.
Morgan led the Crimson Tide, batting 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Braud was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
Locke (3-1) picked up the win in the circle, giving up six hits and striking out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work. Smith (3-2) took the loss, giving up four hits and striking out seven in 4.1 innings. Warrington struck out three in 1.2 innings.
The Lady Flames drop to 7-4 on the year, while Alabama improves to 15-4.
Game 2 of the scheduled doubleheader between the two squads was cancelled in the second inning due to inclement weather. There was no score when the game was called.
The Lady Flames posted a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. On Alabama's eighth pitch of the game, leadoff batter Danielle Howard ripped a home run over the left field wall to give Liberty an immediate 1-0 lead over the Crimson Tide.
Cleanup hitter Kelly Strickland followed suit two outs later, busting a solo shot to left center, pushing the score to 2-0. Starting pitcher Lauren Sewell had not given up a home run all year prior to that inning.
The Crimson Tide came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, when Liberty committed two defensive errors. Jazlyn Lunceford reached on a misplay by Strickland, then advanced to third when pitcher Katie Warrington made a throwing error. She then scored by tagging up when designated player Charlotte Morgan fouled out to right fielder Jenny Law.
The Lady Flames added a sizable five runs in the top of the second. With one out, Cassie Hendrix drew a walk, and then advanced to third when a passed ball bounced out of play. She then scored when Howard singled off the leg of relief pitcher Amanda Locke.
Law followed up with a single through the left side, and one out later, Strickland walked to load the bases. That's when designated player Ashley Bensinger stepped in the box and blasted her first career grand slam and first round tripper of the year with a bomb to left field, giving the Lady Flames a 7-1 lead.
The Liberty defense ran into trouble in the bottom of the second, and Alabama took advantage by batting around and scoring six runs to tie it up, 7-all. Those six runs were scored on two hits, with the remaining runners reaching base by either walking or being hit by a pitch.
Kayla Braud tripled to left to bring in two runs, and Morgan recorded the other hit, a single through the left side.
The third inning was a scoreless one for both teams, and in the bottom half of the inning relief pitcher Tiffani Smith fanned the first three batters in the order to send the game into the fourth inning still tied. At that point, the contest was suspended due to lightning, and resumed 45 minutes later.
The Crimson Tide offense heated up in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to take a 10-7 lead. With one out, Braud singled on a bunt down the third base line, and then stole second.
After Lunceford struck out, Cassie Reilly-Boccia singled to right field, and Braud crossed the plate to give Alabama a one-run edge. And Alabama did not stop there, as Morgan stepped up next and homered to right center field, giving the Crimson Tide a 10-7 lead going into the sixth inning.
The Lady Flames couldn't find an offensive groove in their final two at-bats, and Alabama walked away with the 10-7 win.
Liberty was led by Howard, who was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Bensinger drove in four runs with her second-inning grand slam. Strickland extended her hitting streak to six games with her home run.
Morgan led the Crimson Tide, batting 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Braud was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
Locke (3-1) picked up the win in the circle, giving up six hits and striking out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work. Smith (3-2) took the loss, giving up four hits and striking out seven in 4.1 innings. Warrington struck out three in 1.2 innings.
The Lady Flames drop to 7-4 on the year, while Alabama improves to 15-4.
Game 2 of the scheduled doubleheader between the two squads was cancelled in the second inning due to inclement weather. There was no score when the game was called.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Amanda Locke (3-1)
L: Smith, Tiffani (3-2)
Batting:
HR: Howard, Danielle 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
RBI: Howard, Danielle 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Danielle 2 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
Batting:
3B: Kayla Braud 1
HR: Charlotte Morgan 1
RBI: Kayla Braud 2 ; Cassie Reilly-Boccia 1 ; Charlotte Morgan 4 ; Olivia Gibson 1 ; Amanda Locke 1 ; Jessica Smith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kayla Braud 2 ; Jazlyn Lunceford 1 ; Cassie Reilly-Boccia 2 ; Charlotte Morgan 2 ; Alex Blewitt 1 ; Jessica Smith 1 ; Jackey Branham 1
SB: Kayla Braud 1
HBP: Olivia Gibson 1 ; Jessica Smith 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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