Wednesday, April 21
Hampton, Va.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
31-11
8
at
4
Hampton
18-32
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Liberty
0
0
0
3
4
1
0
8
9
1
Hampton
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
4
9
3
LU Offense Enjoys Late Surge in 8-4 Win
4/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
After three scoreless at-bats, the Liberty offense came alive, scoring eight runs to defeat Hampton, 8-4, Wednesday afternoon.
With the win, the Lady Flames are now on an 11-game winning streak, which is tied for the longest streak in program history.
The Lady Flames got into trouble in the bottom of the first, as the Lady Pirates loaded the bases with one out. But J'nae Jefferson made the force out at home on the next play, and Kelly Strickland fielded a ground ball by Jada Jeffries and tossed it to third for the force out to end the inning.
Liberty had its first baserunner in the top of the second, when Bridgett Woods drew a one-out walk, then stole second to put herself in scoring position. But Kaylee West grounded out and Meredith Baisden struck out swinging to end the at-bat and keep the game at 0-0.
Hampton jumped on the board in the bottom of the second on four hits and a Liberty fielding error to take a 3-0 lead.
Cassie Hendrix tried to get something started for Liberty in the top of the third, ripping a two-out double to right center. On the next play, Jefferson busted a long fly ball to deep center field that was barely caught, and the contest moved into the bottom of the third.
The Lady Flames were able to tie it up, 3-3, in the top of the fourth, thanks in part to two Hampton fielding errors. With one out, Strickland reached on an error by shortstop Travonna Byrd, and Woods followed up with a walk. West then reached on another error by Byrd, allowing Strickland to score to put Liberty on the board.
A Baisden hit and a sacrifice fly from Law contributed to two more Lady Flames runs.
The Pirates put a runner on first in the bottom of the fourth, when Tamara Vickers led off with an infield single. But Bensinger made a timely double play, catching a popped-up bunt by Rebecca Magett and tossing the ball down to tag out Vickers. Adrinna Scott grounded out to second base for the third out.
Liberty had a big fifth frame, scoring four runs on four hits.
Jefferson led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bensinger, before Strickland singled up the middle to drive in a run.
Woods was up next, and doubled to right center to score Strickland, but was thrown out on the play when she tried to advance to third. West then hit a double to center field, and Baisden followed up with a two-run homer to left to give the Lady Flames a 7-3 lead.
Liberty tacked on another run in the top of the sixth. Jefferson singled to right with two outs, and Bensinger walked. Strickland then singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by right fielder Scott, allowing Jefferson to score.
The Lady Pirates threatened to rally back in the bottom of the seventh, recording three consecutive hits with two outs. But after Sharde Estep singled to left, she was tagged out trying to reach third, giving Liberty the 8-4 win.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 31-11, while the Lady Pirates drop to 18-32.
Strickland and Baisden paced Liberty, each batting 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Woods, Howard and Law also drove in runs for the Lady Flames.
Kelsei Saunders led Hampton, batting 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Scott drove in two runs.
Tiffani Smith (18-3) picked up the win in the circle, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out five batters in five complete innings of work.
Sydni Benton suffered the loss, giving up six hits and four earned runs in four and 2/3 innings.
The two teams will face off for Game 2 of today's scheduled doubleheader later this afternoon.
With the win, the Lady Flames are now on an 11-game winning streak, which is tied for the longest streak in program history.
The Lady Flames got into trouble in the bottom of the first, as the Lady Pirates loaded the bases with one out. But J'nae Jefferson made the force out at home on the next play, and Kelly Strickland fielded a ground ball by Jada Jeffries and tossed it to third for the force out to end the inning.
Liberty had its first baserunner in the top of the second, when Bridgett Woods drew a one-out walk, then stole second to put herself in scoring position. But Kaylee West grounded out and Meredith Baisden struck out swinging to end the at-bat and keep the game at 0-0.
Hampton jumped on the board in the bottom of the second on four hits and a Liberty fielding error to take a 3-0 lead.
Cassie Hendrix tried to get something started for Liberty in the top of the third, ripping a two-out double to right center. On the next play, Jefferson busted a long fly ball to deep center field that was barely caught, and the contest moved into the bottom of the third.
The Lady Flames were able to tie it up, 3-3, in the top of the fourth, thanks in part to two Hampton fielding errors. With one out, Strickland reached on an error by shortstop Travonna Byrd, and Woods followed up with a walk. West then reached on another error by Byrd, allowing Strickland to score to put Liberty on the board.
A Baisden hit and a sacrifice fly from Law contributed to two more Lady Flames runs.
The Pirates put a runner on first in the bottom of the fourth, when Tamara Vickers led off with an infield single. But Bensinger made a timely double play, catching a popped-up bunt by Rebecca Magett and tossing the ball down to tag out Vickers. Adrinna Scott grounded out to second base for the third out.
Liberty had a big fifth frame, scoring four runs on four hits.
Jefferson led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bensinger, before Strickland singled up the middle to drive in a run.
Woods was up next, and doubled to right center to score Strickland, but was thrown out on the play when she tried to advance to third. West then hit a double to center field, and Baisden followed up with a two-run homer to left to give the Lady Flames a 7-3 lead.
Liberty tacked on another run in the top of the sixth. Jefferson singled to right with two outs, and Bensinger walked. Strickland then singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by right fielder Scott, allowing Jefferson to score.
The Lady Pirates threatened to rally back in the bottom of the seventh, recording three consecutive hits with two outs. But after Sharde Estep singled to left, she was tagged out trying to reach third, giving Liberty the 8-4 win.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 31-11, while the Lady Pirates drop to 18-32.
Strickland and Baisden paced Liberty, each batting 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Woods, Howard and Law also drove in runs for the Lady Flames.
Kelsei Saunders led Hampton, batting 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Scott drove in two runs.
Tiffani Smith (18-3) picked up the win in the circle, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out five batters in five complete innings of work.
Sydni Benton suffered the loss, giving up six hits and four earned runs in four and 2/3 innings.
The two teams will face off for Game 2 of today's scheduled doubleheader later this afternoon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (18-3)
L: Sydni Benton (3-10)
Batting:
2B: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
HR: Baisden, Meredith 1
RBI: Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 2 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; Law, Jenny 1
SH: Bensinger, Ashley 1
SF: Law, Jenny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Woods, Bridgett 1 ; West, Kaylee 2 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
SB: Woods, Bridgett 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1
CS: Hendrix, Cassie 1
Batting:
2B: Kelsei Saunders 2
RBI: Adrinna Scott 2 ; Jada Jeffries 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tamara Vickers 1 ; Kelsei Saunders 1 ; Travonna Byrd 1 ; Brooke Boykin 1
SB: Tamara Vickers 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
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