Tuesday, April 20
Norfolk, Va.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
30-11
9
at
3
Norfolk State
10-24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Liberty
0
2
3
1
1
0
2
9
15
2
Norfolk State
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
6
0
Liberty Extends Winning Streak with Sweep
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames recorded 15 hits as they defeated the Spartans of Norfolk State, 9-3, Tuesday afternoon. With the win, Liberty completes the sweep, as it took Game 1 earlier in the day, 8-1.
With the two victories, Liberty has now won 10 games in a row, which is the second-longest winning streak in program history.
The Lady Flames took an early lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Kaylee West and Meredith Baisden hit back-to-back singles up the middle, and both runners scored when designated player Bridgett Woods doubled to left center, putting the Lady Flames up, 2-0.
The Spartans recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of the second, when Danielle Wright hit a two-out double over the head of center-fielder Amber DePasquale. But starting pitcher Tiffani Smith struck out Casey Pomeroy to strand the runner and end the at-bat.
Liberty stayed hot in the top of the third, as Cassie Hendrix led off with a double to right center, followed by a short single to center by J'nae Jefferson. Both runners advanced when Ashley Bensinger reached on a bunt single, and Hendrix crossed the plate when Kelly Strickland hit a deep ball to right center. Jefferson and Bensinger scored on the next play, when West doubled to left center with two outs, giving Liberty a 5-0 advantage.
The Spartans put a runner on first in the bottom of the third when Megan Long singled up the middle with one out, but Hendrix made an unassisted double play on the next ball to send the game into the fourth frame.
With one out, Jenny Law singled up the middle, followed by a single through the left side by Hendrix. After a double steal, Jefferson hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Law, and giving Liberty a 6-0 lead.
Norfolk State made a charge in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits and two Liberty errors, bringing the score to 6-3. Relief pitcher Kat Johnson fanned two batters during the inning.
Liberty answered in the top of the fifth, scoring another run on two hits. With one out, DePasquale doubled down the left field line, and moved to third when West flied out to center field. DePasquale scored on the next play, when Baisden singled to center, but Baisden was thrown out at second trying to advance. As the contest moved into the bottom of the fifth frame, Liberty held a comfortable 7-3 advantage.
The Lady Flames enjoyed a four-hit surge with two outs in the top of the seventh, scoring two more runs. Strickland and DePasquale hit back-to-back singles, and Strickland scored on a single by West that popped off the leg of pitcher Elizabeth Castaneda. DePasquale then crossed the plate when Baisden singled to left, putting Liberty up, 9-3.
Johnson fanned two more batters in the Spartans' final at-bat, before Gipsy Ramirez grounded out to Hendrix at second to end the game with a 9-3 Liberty win.
The Lady Flames improve to 30-11, while the Spartans drop to 10-24 on the year.
Liberty was paced by West, who was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Baisden was 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs.
Wright led the Spartans, batting 3-for-3 and driving in one run.
Johnson picked up the win in the circle, improving to 5-2 on the year. She struck out six batters in five complete innings of work, giving up one earned run.
Castaneda (5-14) suffered the loss, giving up eight hits and four earned runs in 4 and 1/3 innings.
Liberty is back in action tomorrow, with a doubleheader at Hampton scheduled for 1 p.m., in Hampton, Va.
With the two victories, Liberty has now won 10 games in a row, which is the second-longest winning streak in program history.
The Lady Flames took an early lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Kaylee West and Meredith Baisden hit back-to-back singles up the middle, and both runners scored when designated player Bridgett Woods doubled to left center, putting the Lady Flames up, 2-0.
The Spartans recorded their first hit of the game in the bottom of the second, when Danielle Wright hit a two-out double over the head of center-fielder Amber DePasquale. But starting pitcher Tiffani Smith struck out Casey Pomeroy to strand the runner and end the at-bat.
Liberty stayed hot in the top of the third, as Cassie Hendrix led off with a double to right center, followed by a short single to center by J'nae Jefferson. Both runners advanced when Ashley Bensinger reached on a bunt single, and Hendrix crossed the plate when Kelly Strickland hit a deep ball to right center. Jefferson and Bensinger scored on the next play, when West doubled to left center with two outs, giving Liberty a 5-0 advantage.
The Spartans put a runner on first in the bottom of the third when Megan Long singled up the middle with one out, but Hendrix made an unassisted double play on the next ball to send the game into the fourth frame.
With one out, Jenny Law singled up the middle, followed by a single through the left side by Hendrix. After a double steal, Jefferson hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Law, and giving Liberty a 6-0 lead.
Norfolk State made a charge in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits and two Liberty errors, bringing the score to 6-3. Relief pitcher Kat Johnson fanned two batters during the inning.
Liberty answered in the top of the fifth, scoring another run on two hits. With one out, DePasquale doubled down the left field line, and moved to third when West flied out to center field. DePasquale scored on the next play, when Baisden singled to center, but Baisden was thrown out at second trying to advance. As the contest moved into the bottom of the fifth frame, Liberty held a comfortable 7-3 advantage.
The Lady Flames enjoyed a four-hit surge with two outs in the top of the seventh, scoring two more runs. Strickland and DePasquale hit back-to-back singles, and Strickland scored on a single by West that popped off the leg of pitcher Elizabeth Castaneda. DePasquale then crossed the plate when Baisden singled to left, putting Liberty up, 9-3.
Johnson fanned two more batters in the Spartans' final at-bat, before Gipsy Ramirez grounded out to Hendrix at second to end the game with a 9-3 Liberty win.
The Lady Flames improve to 30-11, while the Spartans drop to 10-24 on the year.
Liberty was paced by West, who was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Baisden was 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs.
Wright led the Spartans, batting 3-for-3 and driving in one run.
Johnson picked up the win in the circle, improving to 5-2 on the year. She struck out six batters in five complete innings of work, giving up one earned run.
Castaneda (5-14) suffered the loss, giving up eight hits and four earned runs in 4 and 1/3 innings.
Liberty is back in action tomorrow, with a doubleheader at Hampton scheduled for 1 p.m., in Hampton, Va.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Katrina (5-2)
L: Velazquez, Alyssa (5-14)
Batting:
2B: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1
RBI: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; West, Kaylee 3 ; Baisden, Meredith 2 ; Woods, Bridgett 2
SF: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 2 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Law, Jenny 1
SB: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Law, Jenny 1
Batting:
2B: Wright, Danielle 2
RBI: Wright, Danielle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ramirez, Gipsy 1 ; Raab, Jaime 1 ; Sauceda, Jeanette 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
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