Saturday, April 17
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
26-11, 0
4
vs
0
Gardner-Webb
15-28, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Liberty | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 4 | 1 |
Smith Fans 14 Batters as LU Beats Bulldogs
4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tiffani Smith struck out a season-high 14 batters and only gave up two hits as Liberty defeated Gardner-Webb, 4-0, Saturday afternoon, in Lynchburg, Va.
Smith picked up her 16th win of the season, which ties her for No. 1 in the Big South for most wins in the circle this season.
The junior picked up all three wins for the Lady Flames during the Big South weekend series with the Bulldogs and her 16 wins on the year is tied with five other pitchers for third-most wins in a single season by a Lady Flame.
The Lady Flames struck first, scoring a run on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. J'nae Jefferson led off with a single through the left side, and Ashley Bensinger drew a one-out walk. After Kelly Strickland struck out swinging, Amber DePasquale dropped a single behind third base and advanced to second on the throw, as Jefferson was safe at the plate and Liberty took a 1-0 lead.
Liberty added three runs in the bottom of the second frame to take a 4-0 advantage. Danielle Howard led off drawing a walk and then stole second. After Cassie Hendrix popped out, Jefferson drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Bensinger drew another walk to load the bases. Strickland was then hit by a pitch to score Howard.
DePasquale came up with another big hit, ripping a single up the middle to score two more runs. But Strickland was tossed out at third by catcher Mackenzie Morenus on the play, sending the game into the third inning.
The Bulldogs put their first base runner on in the top of the third, after starting pitcher Tiffani Smith struck out the first seven Gardner-Webb batters. Jordyn Arrowood reached on a Liberty throwing error, but Smith came up with two more strikeouts to end the half-inning.
Gardner-Webb recorded its first hit in the top of the sixth, marking Smith's third consecutive start throwing five hitless innings. With one out, Jane Savage hit a short pop up that rolled foul after Bensinger dove for it in fair territory. But Christa Fullwood flied out to center field and Morenus struck out swinging to strand the runner.
Mandy Ward reached on a single to short left field to lead off the top of the seventh. But she was forced out at second on the next play, a fielder's choice to Howard at third base. Pinch hitter Michelle Primm and Kelly Montgomery struck out swinging, sealing the 4-0 victory for the Lady Flames.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 26-11 overall and 9-3 in Big South play, while Gardner-Webb drops to 15-28 overall and 2-9 in the conference.
The Lady Flames have now won six games in a row and eight of their last nine contests. The six-game winning streak marks the second time this year Liberty has won six games in a row.
The Big South sweep puts the Lady Flames in second place in the league and only two games behind conference leader Radford (11-1), who begins a three-game set at Coastal Carolina, later this afternoon.
Liberty was led by DePasquale, who was 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Jefferson was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Hendrix continued her hitting streak, getting a hit in her seventh consecutive game.
The Bulldogs were led by Ward and Savage, who recorded one hit apiece.
Smith (16-3) struck out a season-high 14 batters in the win. She also holds the Liberty program record with 16, which she set last year against Presbyterian on April 24, 2009.
The 14 batters fanned on the day gives her 157 on the season, which is tied with Sarah Ellis (2009) and Sarah Swor (2005) for the fourth most strikeouts in single-season program history. On the weekend, Smith tallied a total of 24 strikeouts during 15 innings of work.
Christine Murray (8-14) suffered the loss, giving up two hits and striking out two batters in one and 2/3 innings of work.
The Lady Flames continue their busy weekend tomorrow, hosting George Washington in a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs have a bit of a break before resuming conference play next weekend, hosting Charleston Southern in a three-game series on April 24 and 25 in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Smith picked up her 16th win of the season, which ties her for No. 1 in the Big South for most wins in the circle this season.
The junior picked up all three wins for the Lady Flames during the Big South weekend series with the Bulldogs and her 16 wins on the year is tied with five other pitchers for third-most wins in a single season by a Lady Flame.
The Lady Flames struck first, scoring a run on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. J'nae Jefferson led off with a single through the left side, and Ashley Bensinger drew a one-out walk. After Kelly Strickland struck out swinging, Amber DePasquale dropped a single behind third base and advanced to second on the throw, as Jefferson was safe at the plate and Liberty took a 1-0 lead.
Liberty added three runs in the bottom of the second frame to take a 4-0 advantage. Danielle Howard led off drawing a walk and then stole second. After Cassie Hendrix popped out, Jefferson drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Bensinger drew another walk to load the bases. Strickland was then hit by a pitch to score Howard.
DePasquale came up with another big hit, ripping a single up the middle to score two more runs. But Strickland was tossed out at third by catcher Mackenzie Morenus on the play, sending the game into the third inning.
The Bulldogs put their first base runner on in the top of the third, after starting pitcher Tiffani Smith struck out the first seven Gardner-Webb batters. Jordyn Arrowood reached on a Liberty throwing error, but Smith came up with two more strikeouts to end the half-inning.
Gardner-Webb recorded its first hit in the top of the sixth, marking Smith's third consecutive start throwing five hitless innings. With one out, Jane Savage hit a short pop up that rolled foul after Bensinger dove for it in fair territory. But Christa Fullwood flied out to center field and Morenus struck out swinging to strand the runner.
Mandy Ward reached on a single to short left field to lead off the top of the seventh. But she was forced out at second on the next play, a fielder's choice to Howard at third base. Pinch hitter Michelle Primm and Kelly Montgomery struck out swinging, sealing the 4-0 victory for the Lady Flames.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 26-11 overall and 9-3 in Big South play, while Gardner-Webb drops to 15-28 overall and 2-9 in the conference.
The Lady Flames have now won six games in a row and eight of their last nine contests. The six-game winning streak marks the second time this year Liberty has won six games in a row.
The Big South sweep puts the Lady Flames in second place in the league and only two games behind conference leader Radford (11-1), who begins a three-game set at Coastal Carolina, later this afternoon.
Liberty was led by DePasquale, who was 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Jefferson was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Hendrix continued her hitting streak, getting a hit in her seventh consecutive game.
The Bulldogs were led by Ward and Savage, who recorded one hit apiece.
Smith (16-3) struck out a season-high 14 batters in the win. She also holds the Liberty program record with 16, which she set last year against Presbyterian on April 24, 2009.
The 14 batters fanned on the day gives her 157 on the season, which is tied with Sarah Ellis (2009) and Sarah Swor (2005) for the fourth most strikeouts in single-season program history. On the weekend, Smith tallied a total of 24 strikeouts during 15 innings of work.
Christine Murray (8-14) suffered the loss, giving up two hits and striking out two batters in one and 2/3 innings of work.
The Lady Flames continue their busy weekend tomorrow, hosting George Washington in a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs have a bit of a break before resuming conference play next weekend, hosting Charleston Southern in a three-game series on April 24 and 25 in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (16-3)
L: MURRAY, Christine (8-14)
Base Running:
SB: ARROWOOD, Jordyn 1
Batting:
RBI: Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 2 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1
SB: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Howard, Danielle 2
HBP: Strickland, Kelly 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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