Wednesday, April 7
Lynchburg, Va.
2:00 PM
Liberty University
18-10
10
vs
11
UNC Greensboro
15-19
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Greensboro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 2 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 2 |
Spartans Edge Lady Flames in Slugfest
4/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames and the Spartans took turns taking the lead, but UNC Greensboro came out on top, 11-10, in nine innings, Wednesday afternoon, in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field.
The Lady Flames recorded two hits in the bottom of the first inning. J'nae Jefferson extended her hitting streak to 10 games by leading off with a single through the left side, and moved to second two outs later when Kelly Strickland singled up the middle. But UNC Greensboro got out of the jam when Amber DePasquale fouled out to the catcher, and the game remained scoreless.
The Spartans put a runner on first in the top of the third, when Laura Olenderski singled through the left side with one out. But she was caught stealing during the next at-bat, returning to the dugout after getting thrown out at second by catcher Ashley Bensinger at second. Leadoff batter Brittany Ausley then struck out swinging to end the half-inning.
The Spartans scored five unearned runs in the top of the fourth due in part to two Liberty defensive errors. Kristen Gabel reached on a throwing error by Danielle Howard, and Alex Emeterio reached on a fielding error by DePasquale in the left-center gap and advanced to second on the throw, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. After Kaitlin Merkt drew a walk, Emily Akiyama doubled to left center, driving in the first two runs of the game.
The Spartans didn't stop there, as Heather Robb reached on a fielder's choice when she hit a grounder to first baseman Kaylee West, who attempted to throw out Merkt at home. But Merkt avoided the tag, giving UNC Greensboro a 3-0 advantage with only one out.
With two outs, Olenderski walked to load the bases, and Ausley singled to center field to bring in two more runs, pushing the score to 5-0 in favor of UNC Greensboro.
One inning later, the Lady Flames not only chipped away at the lead, but they took a one-run advantage, scoring six runs on three hits.
Meredith Baisden led off with a bunt single to the pitcher, and moved to second when Howard drew a walk. One out later, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Jefferson walked to load the bases.
At that point, Jenny Law stepped up to rip a double to left center and drive in two runs, bringing the score to 5-2.
After Bensinger walked to load the bases, Kelly Strickland went deep for her 10th homer of the year and her first career grand slam, lifting Liberty to a 6-5 advantage.
UNC Greensboro was able to tie it up in the top of the seventh on one hit and three walks by Tiffani Smith, including one that forced in the tying run, sending the game into the bottom of the seventh with a 6-6 ball game.
Bensinger led off with a blooper single to center field, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DePasquale for the second out. West then struck out, sending the game into extra innings.
The Spartans took back the lead in the top of the eighth, pushing the score to 7-6, but the Lady Flames answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-out single by Cassie Hendrix.
The Spartans regained a sizeable lead in the top of the ninth inning thanks to a pinch-hit grand slam by Katie Stripling, going up 11-7.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jefferson was placed on second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. She then scored on a fielding error by the shortstop when Bensinger singled,and DePasquale homered with two outs to bring the score to 11-10.
But pitcher Cory Mattson beared down, forcing West to foul out to the first baseman, ending the game.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-5 with four RBIs, while Bensinger was 2-for-4 and Law and DePasquale each drove in two runs.
Akiyama led the Spartans, batting 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Mattson (8-9) picked up the win in the circle, giving up five hits and striking out six Liberty batters in four 2/3 innings of work.
Katie Warrington (6-5) suffered the loss, giving up six hits and striking out four in five and 2/3 innings, while Smith recorded eight strikeouts in three and 1/3 innings.
The Lady Flames drop to 18-10 on the year, while the Spartans improve to 15-19.
The two squads will square off for Game 2 later this afternoon.
The Lady Flames recorded two hits in the bottom of the first inning. J'nae Jefferson extended her hitting streak to 10 games by leading off with a single through the left side, and moved to second two outs later when Kelly Strickland singled up the middle. But UNC Greensboro got out of the jam when Amber DePasquale fouled out to the catcher, and the game remained scoreless.
The Spartans put a runner on first in the top of the third, when Laura Olenderski singled through the left side with one out. But she was caught stealing during the next at-bat, returning to the dugout after getting thrown out at second by catcher Ashley Bensinger at second. Leadoff batter Brittany Ausley then struck out swinging to end the half-inning.
The Spartans scored five unearned runs in the top of the fourth due in part to two Liberty defensive errors. Kristen Gabel reached on a throwing error by Danielle Howard, and Alex Emeterio reached on a fielding error by DePasquale in the left-center gap and advanced to second on the throw, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. After Kaitlin Merkt drew a walk, Emily Akiyama doubled to left center, driving in the first two runs of the game.
The Spartans didn't stop there, as Heather Robb reached on a fielder's choice when she hit a grounder to first baseman Kaylee West, who attempted to throw out Merkt at home. But Merkt avoided the tag, giving UNC Greensboro a 3-0 advantage with only one out.
With two outs, Olenderski walked to load the bases, and Ausley singled to center field to bring in two more runs, pushing the score to 5-0 in favor of UNC Greensboro.
One inning later, the Lady Flames not only chipped away at the lead, but they took a one-run advantage, scoring six runs on three hits.
Meredith Baisden led off with a bunt single to the pitcher, and moved to second when Howard drew a walk. One out later, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Jefferson walked to load the bases.
At that point, Jenny Law stepped up to rip a double to left center and drive in two runs, bringing the score to 5-2.
After Bensinger walked to load the bases, Kelly Strickland went deep for her 10th homer of the year and her first career grand slam, lifting Liberty to a 6-5 advantage.
UNC Greensboro was able to tie it up in the top of the seventh on one hit and three walks by Tiffani Smith, including one that forced in the tying run, sending the game into the bottom of the seventh with a 6-6 ball game.
Bensinger led off with a blooper single to center field, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DePasquale for the second out. West then struck out, sending the game into extra innings.
The Spartans took back the lead in the top of the eighth, pushing the score to 7-6, but the Lady Flames answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-out single by Cassie Hendrix.
The Spartans regained a sizeable lead in the top of the ninth inning thanks to a pinch-hit grand slam by Katie Stripling, going up 11-7.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jefferson was placed on second, and advanced to third on a passed ball. She then scored on a fielding error by the shortstop when Bensinger singled,and DePasquale homered with two outs to bring the score to 11-10.
But pitcher Cory Mattson beared down, forcing West to foul out to the first baseman, ending the game.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-5 with four RBIs, while Bensinger was 2-for-4 and Law and DePasquale each drove in two runs.
Akiyama led the Spartans, batting 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Mattson (8-9) picked up the win in the circle, giving up five hits and striking out six Liberty batters in four 2/3 innings of work.
Katie Warrington (6-5) suffered the loss, giving up six hits and striking out four in five and 2/3 innings, while Smith recorded eight strikeouts in three and 1/3 innings.
The Lady Flames drop to 18-10 on the year, while the Spartans improve to 15-19.
The two squads will square off for Game 2 later this afternoon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cory Mattson (8-9)
L: Warrington, Katie (6-5)
Batting:
HR: Katie Stripling 1
RBI: Brittany Ausley 2 ; Kaitlin Merkt 1 ; Emily Akiyama 1 ; Heather Robb 1 ; Whitney Sirois 1 ; Katie Stripling 4
SF: Whitney Sirois 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kristen Gabel 2 ; Alex Emeterio 2 ; Kaitlin Merkt 2 ; Emily Akiyama 2 ; Heather Robb 2 ; Katie Stripling 1
CS: Laura Olenderski 1
Batting:
2B: Law, Jenny 1
HR: Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1
RBI: Law, Jenny 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 4 ; DePasquale, Amber 2 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
SH: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 2 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1 ; Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1
SB: Baisden, Meredith 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
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