Saturday, April 24
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
32-12
6
vs
7
Longwood
33-14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Longwood
0
0
1
0
3
1
2
7
7
1
Liberty
3
0
0
0
0
1
2
6
7
2
Lancers Edge Lady Flames, 7-6
4/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Both teams recorded seven hits as the Lancers of Longwood edged Liberty, 7-6, in Game 1 of a non-conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon.
The loss snaps Liberty's program-best 12-game winning streak.
The Lady Flames took a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits. With one out, J'nae Jefferson drew a walk, then immediately stole second. Cassie Hendrix then reached on a single that dropped behind the pitcher, and Jefferson moved to third.
The Lancers intentionally walked Kelly Strickland to load the bases after Hendrix stole second. After Kaylee West struck out swinging, Amber DePasquale walked to bring in Jefferson for the first run of the game.
Liberty continued, as Meredith Baisden singled to left, driving in two more runs to give the Lady Flames the 3-0 advantage.
The Lancers threatened to score in the top of the second, as Ketsdever hit a one-out single and Amy Betterton walked. Briana Wells was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. But starting pitcher Tiffani Smith beared down, striking out Brittany Matthews to get out of the jam.
Longwood put a run on the board in the top of the third, when designated player Brooke Short homered deep over the left field fence with two outs, bringing the score to 3-1.
The Lancers took a one-run lead in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits and one Liberty error. Wells led off with a single to center field, and pinch runner Brittney Latka advanced to second when Matthews reached on a throwing error by Danielle Howard on a sacrifice bunt attempt. During the next at-bat, Latka scored on a wild pitch and Matthews moved to third.
Matthews scored on a sacrifice fly by Kami Nuckols, and Brooke Short, who walked, crossed the plate on a double by Ashley Kramer, giving Longwood a 4-3 advantage.
The Lancers added another run to their lead on one hit and a Liberty error in the top of the sixth to extend the score to 5-3, but Liberty responded in the bottom of the frame when DePasquale singled through the right side to score pinch runner Jenna Eatmon, who was running for West, who singled.
The top of the seventh added more trouble for the Lady Flames, as Longwood scored two more runs to take a 7-4 lead. Nuckols singled through the left side, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Short intentionally walked, both runners advanced on a double steal. With two outs, Betterton doubled down the left field line to bring in two runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Strickland ripped a lined two-run homer over the left field fence to bring Liberty within one run. The bomb marked No. 15 of the year for Strickland, and brought Liberty to within one. But the Lady Flames could not continue the surge, falling, 7-6.
With the loss, the Lady Flames drop to 32-12 on the year, while the Lancers improve to 33-14.
Strickland, DePasquale and Baisden paced the Lady Flames, each batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Betterton led Longwood, going 1-for-3 at the plate and driving in two runs.
Smith (18-4) suffered the loss, giving up seven hits and striking out 11 batters, while Wells improved to 29-8, giving up seven hits and striking out six.
The two teams are back in action later this afternoon for Game 2 of today's doubleheader.
The loss snaps Liberty's program-best 12-game winning streak.
The Lady Flames took a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits. With one out, J'nae Jefferson drew a walk, then immediately stole second. Cassie Hendrix then reached on a single that dropped behind the pitcher, and Jefferson moved to third.
The Lancers intentionally walked Kelly Strickland to load the bases after Hendrix stole second. After Kaylee West struck out swinging, Amber DePasquale walked to bring in Jefferson for the first run of the game.
Liberty continued, as Meredith Baisden singled to left, driving in two more runs to give the Lady Flames the 3-0 advantage.
The Lancers threatened to score in the top of the second, as Ketsdever hit a one-out single and Amy Betterton walked. Briana Wells was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. But starting pitcher Tiffani Smith beared down, striking out Brittany Matthews to get out of the jam.
Longwood put a run on the board in the top of the third, when designated player Brooke Short homered deep over the left field fence with two outs, bringing the score to 3-1.
The Lancers took a one-run lead in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on two hits and one Liberty error. Wells led off with a single to center field, and pinch runner Brittney Latka advanced to second when Matthews reached on a throwing error by Danielle Howard on a sacrifice bunt attempt. During the next at-bat, Latka scored on a wild pitch and Matthews moved to third.
Matthews scored on a sacrifice fly by Kami Nuckols, and Brooke Short, who walked, crossed the plate on a double by Ashley Kramer, giving Longwood a 4-3 advantage.
The Lancers added another run to their lead on one hit and a Liberty error in the top of the sixth to extend the score to 5-3, but Liberty responded in the bottom of the frame when DePasquale singled through the right side to score pinch runner Jenna Eatmon, who was running for West, who singled.
The top of the seventh added more trouble for the Lady Flames, as Longwood scored two more runs to take a 7-4 lead. Nuckols singled through the left side, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Short intentionally walked, both runners advanced on a double steal. With two outs, Betterton doubled down the left field line to bring in two runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Strickland ripped a lined two-run homer over the left field fence to bring Liberty within one run. The bomb marked No. 15 of the year for Strickland, and brought Liberty to within one. But the Lady Flames could not continue the surge, falling, 7-6.
With the loss, the Lady Flames drop to 32-12 on the year, while the Lancers improve to 33-14.
Strickland, DePasquale and Baisden paced the Lady Flames, each batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Betterton led Longwood, going 1-for-3 at the plate and driving in two runs.
Smith (18-4) suffered the loss, giving up seven hits and striking out 11 batters, while Wells improved to 29-8, giving up seven hits and striking out six.
The two teams are back in action later this afternoon for Game 2 of today's doubleheader.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wells, Briana (29-8)
L: Smith, Tiffani (18-4)
Batting:
2B: Kramer, Ashley 1 ; Betterton, Amy 1
HR: Short, Brooke 1
RBI: Nuckols, Kami 1 ; Short, Brooke 1 ; Kramer, Ashley 1 ; Betterton, Amy 2 ; Wells, Briana 1
SH: Margadonna, Maggie 1 ; Matthews, Brittany 1
SF: Nuckols, Kami 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nuckols, Kami 1 ; Short, Brooke 3 ; Ketsdever, Camille 1 ; Latka, Brittney 1 ; Matthews, Brittany 1
SB: Nuckols, Kami 1 ; Short, Brooke 1
HBP: Wells, Briana 1
Batting:
HR: Strickland, Kelly 1
RBI: Strickland, Kelly 2 ; DePasquale, Amber 2 ; Baisden, Meredith 2
SH: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
SB: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
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