Friday, April 9
Charleston, S.C.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
20-11, 0
4
at
5
Charleston Southern
21-20-1, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Charleston Southern | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
CSU Overcomes Liberty in Final Inning
4/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Buccaneers broke a tie due to a Liberty error to seal a 5-4 win over the Lady Flames, Friday afternoon, in Game 2 of a Big South Conference doubleheader. Liberty won Game 1, 3-0.
The Lady Flames struck first, scoring a run on two hits in the top of the second inning. Kelly Strickland led off with a single up the middle, and with one out, Kaylee West reached on a fielder's choice with a bunt to the pitcher. Meredith Baisden then singled to left to load the bases, and Bridgett Woods drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right, giving Liberty a 1-0 lead.
Ashley Bensinger drove in Liberty's second run in the top of the third with a one-out single to left. The liner scored J'nae Jefferson from second to put the Lady Flames up, 2-0.
They didn't keep the lead for long, as the Buccaneers came out hitting in the bottom half of the third, scoring four runs on four hits and one Liberty error. Trea Steele reached on a fielding miscue by Woods at third, and moved to second when Courtney Konyk singled with a slow roller to third. After Melissa Adams struck out, Megan Lombard singled through the right side, followed by a three-RBI triple by Megan Hall to give the Bucs a 3-2 lead. Charleston Southern added another run when Shayla Cullum singled through the left side, pushing the score to 4-2 when Hall crossed the plate.
The Lady Flames fought back in the top of the fourth, as Kaylee West busted a solo homer to right, her fourth of the year, to bring the score to 4-3.
Liberty tied it up in the top of the sixth due in part to a fielding error by left fielder Jana Matthews. Amber DePasquale hit a deep fly ball that popped in and out of Matthews' glove, and was able to advance to second on the play. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by West, and scored on a single up the middle by Woods.
The Buccaneers started a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Adams led off with a single through the right side, and advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Lombard. The Lady Flames then intentionally walked Hall, and Cullum struck out swinging for the second out.
At that point, Erin Kegley hit a grounder to third that bounced off the glove of Woods, allowing Hall to score and give Charleston Southern the 5-4 victory.
The Lady Flames drop to 20-11 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while Charleston Southern improves to 21-20 overall and 5-5 in the Big South.
Woods led the Lady Flames, driving in two runs, while Baisden and Bensinger each recorded one hit and drove in a run apiece.
Baisden is now on a nine-game hitting streak, while Jenny Law has hit safely in each of the last five games.
Charleston Southern was led by Hall, who was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Katie Warrington (6-6) suffered the loss in the circle, giving up one hit and striking out two batters in one and 2/3 innings of work. Starter Kat Johnson threw five complete innings, giving up five hits and fanning five batters.
Caitlin Allen picked up the win, improving to 5-3. She gave up two hits and no earned runs in three complete innings.
Liberty and Charleston Southern will meet again tomorrow for the final game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Lady Flames struck first, scoring a run on two hits in the top of the second inning. Kelly Strickland led off with a single up the middle, and with one out, Kaylee West reached on a fielder's choice with a bunt to the pitcher. Meredith Baisden then singled to left to load the bases, and Bridgett Woods drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right, giving Liberty a 1-0 lead.
Ashley Bensinger drove in Liberty's second run in the top of the third with a one-out single to left. The liner scored J'nae Jefferson from second to put the Lady Flames up, 2-0.
They didn't keep the lead for long, as the Buccaneers came out hitting in the bottom half of the third, scoring four runs on four hits and one Liberty error. Trea Steele reached on a fielding miscue by Woods at third, and moved to second when Courtney Konyk singled with a slow roller to third. After Melissa Adams struck out, Megan Lombard singled through the right side, followed by a three-RBI triple by Megan Hall to give the Bucs a 3-2 lead. Charleston Southern added another run when Shayla Cullum singled through the left side, pushing the score to 4-2 when Hall crossed the plate.
The Lady Flames fought back in the top of the fourth, as Kaylee West busted a solo homer to right, her fourth of the year, to bring the score to 4-3.
Liberty tied it up in the top of the sixth due in part to a fielding error by left fielder Jana Matthews. Amber DePasquale hit a deep fly ball that popped in and out of Matthews' glove, and was able to advance to second on the play. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by West, and scored on a single up the middle by Woods.
The Buccaneers started a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Adams led off with a single through the right side, and advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Lombard. The Lady Flames then intentionally walked Hall, and Cullum struck out swinging for the second out.
At that point, Erin Kegley hit a grounder to third that bounced off the glove of Woods, allowing Hall to score and give Charleston Southern the 5-4 victory.
The Lady Flames drop to 20-11 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while Charleston Southern improves to 21-20 overall and 5-5 in the Big South.
Woods led the Lady Flames, driving in two runs, while Baisden and Bensinger each recorded one hit and drove in a run apiece.
Baisden is now on a nine-game hitting streak, while Jenny Law has hit safely in each of the last five games.
Charleston Southern was led by Hall, who was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Katie Warrington (6-6) suffered the loss in the circle, giving up one hit and striking out two batters in one and 2/3 innings of work. Starter Kat Johnson threw five complete innings, giving up five hits and fanning five batters.
Caitlin Allen picked up the win, improving to 5-3. She gave up two hits and no earned runs in three complete innings.
Liberty and Charleston Southern will meet again tomorrow for the final game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ALLEN, Caitlin (5-3)
L: Warrington, Katie (6-6)
Batting:
HR: West, Kaylee 1
RBI: Bensinger, Ashley 1 ; West, Kaylee 1 ; Woods, Bridgett 2
SH: Law, Jenny 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
SF: Woods, Bridgett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
Batting:
3B: HALL, Megan 1
RBI: HALL, Megan 3 ; CULLUM, Shayla 1
SH: LOMBARD, Megan 1 ; KONYK, Courtney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LOMBARD, Megan 1 ; HALL, Megan 1 ; STEELE, Trea 1 ; KONYK, Courtney 1 ; ADAMS, Melissa 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
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