Wednesday, April 14
Lynchburg, Va.
2:00 PM
Liberty University
22-11
5
vs
1
James Madison
16-25
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Strickland Hits 11th Homer as LU Beats JMU
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames scored five runs on five hits, including a three-run homer by Kelly Strickland, to defeat James Madison, 5-1, Wednesday afternoon, in Game 1 of a non-conference doubleheader in Lynchburg, Va.
The Lady Flames put a runner on in the bottom of the first when J'nae Jefferson drew a walk. Two outs later, Strickland roped a long fly ball to left, but it was caught at the fence by Brittney Dyson, and the game moved into the second.
Cassie Hendrix recorded the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a bunt single that dropped behind third base, moving Bridgett Woods, who walked, to second. Both runners advanced when Jefferson grounded out to the pitcher for the first out.
Liberty took the lead on the next play, when Jenny Law singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw to the plate, with both runners crossing the plate to give the Lady Flames a 2-0 lead.
After Ashley Bensinger drew a walk, JMU head coach Katie Flynn made the call to the bullpen, bringing in Cara Stecher to relieve starter Heather Dindinger.
Strickland welcomed Stecher to the game by busting her 11th homer of the year, a three-run shot to right, to put the Lady Flames up, 5-0.
Liberty starting pitcher Katie Warrington kept the Dukes hitless until the fifth inning, when Lori Botkin led off with a hard-hit single up the middle. But she was caught stealing by catcher Bensinger during the next at-bat for the first out. Dyson then struck out looking, and Jasmine Butler reached on a fielding error by Strickland at shortstop. The half-inning was over on the next play, when Strickland made the force out at second on a grounder by Ashley Burnham.
The Dukes scored a run in the top of the sixth, starting with a Shannon Moxey single up the middle.
After Moxey moved to second on a wild pitch, she scored on a one-out single to deep center field by Haley Johnson. After Caitlin Manning singled to left to put runners on first and second with one out, Tiffani Smith entered the game to relieve Warrington in the circle for Liberty.
Smith got to work, as Casey Mansfield struck out looking and Botkin grounded out to shortstop for the second and third outs.
No other runs were scored in the contest, and Liberty walked away with the 5-1 victory.
With the win, Liberty improves to 22-11, while James Madison drops to 16-25.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, driving in three runs, and Law was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Johnson led the Dukes, batting 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Warrington picked up the win in the circle, improving to 7-6 on the year. She gave up four hits and struck out four batters in five and 1/3 innings or work. Smith earned her third save of the year, giving up no hits and recording one strikeout in one and 2/3 innings.
Dindinger suffered the loss, dropping to 3-10 this season. She gave up two hits and four earned runs in two and 1/3 innings.
The two squads will square off for Game 2 later this afternoon.
The Lady Flames put a runner on in the bottom of the first when J'nae Jefferson drew a walk. Two outs later, Strickland roped a long fly ball to left, but it was caught at the fence by Brittney Dyson, and the game moved into the second.
Cassie Hendrix recorded the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third with a bunt single that dropped behind third base, moving Bridgett Woods, who walked, to second. Both runners advanced when Jefferson grounded out to the pitcher for the first out.
Liberty took the lead on the next play, when Jenny Law singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw to the plate, with both runners crossing the plate to give the Lady Flames a 2-0 lead.
After Ashley Bensinger drew a walk, JMU head coach Katie Flynn made the call to the bullpen, bringing in Cara Stecher to relieve starter Heather Dindinger.
Strickland welcomed Stecher to the game by busting her 11th homer of the year, a three-run shot to right, to put the Lady Flames up, 5-0.
Liberty starting pitcher Katie Warrington kept the Dukes hitless until the fifth inning, when Lori Botkin led off with a hard-hit single up the middle. But she was caught stealing by catcher Bensinger during the next at-bat for the first out. Dyson then struck out looking, and Jasmine Butler reached on a fielding error by Strickland at shortstop. The half-inning was over on the next play, when Strickland made the force out at second on a grounder by Ashley Burnham.
The Dukes scored a run in the top of the sixth, starting with a Shannon Moxey single up the middle.
After Moxey moved to second on a wild pitch, she scored on a one-out single to deep center field by Haley Johnson. After Caitlin Manning singled to left to put runners on first and second with one out, Tiffani Smith entered the game to relieve Warrington in the circle for Liberty.
Smith got to work, as Casey Mansfield struck out looking and Botkin grounded out to shortstop for the second and third outs.
No other runs were scored in the contest, and Liberty walked away with the 5-1 victory.
With the win, Liberty improves to 22-11, while James Madison drops to 16-25.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, driving in three runs, and Law was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Johnson led the Dukes, batting 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Warrington picked up the win in the circle, improving to 7-6 on the year. She gave up four hits and struck out four batters in five and 1/3 innings or work. Smith earned her third save of the year, giving up no hits and recording one strikeout in one and 2/3 innings.
Dindinger suffered the loss, dropping to 3-10 this season. She gave up two hits and four earned runs in two and 1/3 innings.
The two squads will square off for Game 2 later this afternoon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Warrington, Katie (7-6)
L: Dindinger, Heather (3-10)
S: Smith, Tiffani (3)
Batting:
RBI: Johnson, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moxey, Shannon 1
SB: Dyson, Brittney 1
CS: Botkin, Lori 1
HBP: Simons, Courtney 1
Batting:
HR: Strickland, Kelly 1
RBI: Law, Jenny 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 3
SH: DePasquale, Amber 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Law, Jenny 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SB: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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