Friday, April 2
Lynchburg, Va.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
17-9, 0
4
vs
1
Winthrop
20-13, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winthrop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
Jeffersons Walk-Off Homer Gives LU 4-1 Win
4/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In a low-scoring game that stayed tied for most of the contest, senior J'nae Jefferson lifted Liberty to a 4-1 victory with a three-run, walk-off home run, to defeat Winthrop and complete the sweep of a Big South doubleheader, Friday afternoon, at Liberty Softball Field.
The Lady Flames won Game 1, earlier in the day, by a score of 3-0, helping Liberty complete the Big South sweep on the afternoon.
Kelly Strickland recorded the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle. She then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Amber DePasquale. But she remained stranded, as Danielle Howard struck out swinging and Kaylee West grounded out to the pitcher.
Megan Chapman reached on Winthrop's first hit in the top of the third, when her bunt down the third base line spun into fair territory for a base hit. But Liberty pitcher Tiffani Smith came up with two strikeouts to keep the game scoreless moving into the third inning.
But the Eagles were able to score their first run of the day when Kelly Blea hit a two-out solo home run to left field, her first of the year, giving Winthrop a 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Flames tied it up, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth. West led off with a single through the right side, and pinch runner Jenna Eatmon advanced to second when Meredith Baisden laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. Eatmon then scored from second on a single to left by Cassie Hendrix, evening the score.
After Liberty held the Eagles hitless in the top of the seventh, it came down to the Lady Flames' final at-bat.
With one out, Meredith Baisden singled to right field, followed by a perfectly-placed bunt singled by Cassie Hendrix. That's when Jefferson stepped up to the plate to blast her third home run of the year, and the shot over the left field fence sealed the 4-1 win.
Apart from Jefferson's game-winner, Hendrix led the Lady Flames, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in a run. Strickland was also 2-for-3.
Blea led Winthrop, hitting 1-for-3 with one RBI. Chapman recorded the other hit for the Eagles.
Smith picked up the win in the circle, improving to 9-3. She gave up two hits and tallied six strikeouts in the complete-game appearance.
Megan Evans (7-4) took the loss, giving up eight hits and striking out three batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.
After two wins over Winthrop, the Lady Flames improve to 17-9 overall and 3-2 in the Big South. The Eagles drop to 20-13 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Winthrop's losses today mark their first conference losses of the season, as the Eagles were 3-0 in the Big South prior to today's doubleheader.
Liberty and Winthrop will meet tomorrow afternoon for the final contest in the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Lady Flames won Game 1, earlier in the day, by a score of 3-0, helping Liberty complete the Big South sweep on the afternoon.
Kelly Strickland recorded the first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle. She then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Amber DePasquale. But she remained stranded, as Danielle Howard struck out swinging and Kaylee West grounded out to the pitcher.
Megan Chapman reached on Winthrop's first hit in the top of the third, when her bunt down the third base line spun into fair territory for a base hit. But Liberty pitcher Tiffani Smith came up with two strikeouts to keep the game scoreless moving into the third inning.
But the Eagles were able to score their first run of the day when Kelly Blea hit a two-out solo home run to left field, her first of the year, giving Winthrop a 1-0 advantage in the top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Flames tied it up, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth. West led off with a single through the right side, and pinch runner Jenna Eatmon advanced to second when Meredith Baisden laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. Eatmon then scored from second on a single to left by Cassie Hendrix, evening the score.
After Liberty held the Eagles hitless in the top of the seventh, it came down to the Lady Flames' final at-bat.
With one out, Meredith Baisden singled to right field, followed by a perfectly-placed bunt singled by Cassie Hendrix. That's when Jefferson stepped up to the plate to blast her third home run of the year, and the shot over the left field fence sealed the 4-1 win.
Apart from Jefferson's game-winner, Hendrix led the Lady Flames, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in a run. Strickland was also 2-for-3.
Blea led Winthrop, hitting 1-for-3 with one RBI. Chapman recorded the other hit for the Eagles.
Smith picked up the win in the circle, improving to 9-3. She gave up two hits and tallied six strikeouts in the complete-game appearance.
Megan Evans (7-4) took the loss, giving up eight hits and striking out three batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.
After two wins over Winthrop, the Lady Flames improve to 17-9 overall and 3-2 in the Big South. The Eagles drop to 20-13 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Winthrop's losses today mark their first conference losses of the season, as the Eagles were 3-0 in the Big South prior to today's doubleheader.
Liberty and Winthrop will meet tomorrow afternoon for the final contest in the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (9-3)
L: EVANS, Megan (7-4)
Batting:
HR: BLEA, Kelly 1
RBI: BLEA, Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BLEA, Kelly 1
Batting:
HR: Jefferson, J'nae 1
RBI: Jefferson, J'nae 3 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SH: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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