Furman Shuts Out Liberty, 12-0

The Liberty softball team opened its participation at the Spartan Classic on Friday, taking on Furman of the Southern Conference. The Paladins kept the Lady Flames from recording a hit en route to a 12-0, five-inning victory for Furman.

With the win, Furman improves to 3-5 on the season, with its third win in a row. The Paladins also defeated Big South program Winthrop, earlier today. The Lady Flames now hold a 2-7 record, heading into the team's second day in Spartanburg.

Furman's Shelby Parker (2-2) tossed a no-hitter, striking out six while walking two, facing two over the minimum in five innings pitched

Annah Jo Brittingham (1-4) drew the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits, while striking out a season-high six batters in 4 1/3 innings of work. Alyssa DiMartino yielded four runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.

For Furman, Andrea Abbatiello, Candace Johnson and Nikki Legg all collected two hits, while Johnson, Sieara Bishop and Natalie Clemmons each homered. Furman used a nine-run fourth inning to break open a close game.

Kelby Allen and Grace Nordan both drew walks for Liberty, serving as the Lady Flames' two baserunners.
Brittingham pitched a scoreless first inning, working around a one-out single.

The Paladins rallied with two outs in the top of the second, as a Hannah Pace walked, and then Clemmons hit a two-run homer to left field, good for a 2-0 Furman advantage.

The game went to the fourth inning with the Paladins leading, 2-0. To that point, Furman had only recorded three hits. Taylor Jenkins hit a leadoff triple, opening the door for a nine-run inning which made the score 11-0. After a three-run homer by Bishop, DiMartino came on in relief of Brittingham, yielding four more tallies before the end of the inning.

After a 1-2-3 Liberty fourth inning, Furman scored once in the top of the fifth, on a solo home run by Johnson. Nordan drew a walk with one out in Liberty's fifth time at bat, but a pair of strikeouts brought the game to a close.

Liberty will continue its time in Spartanburg with a pair of games tomorrow, starting with an 11 a.m. matchup against Western Carolina. The Lady Flames will meet tournament host USC Upstate at 3 p.m.

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Team Stats

Katie Zavodny

Blair Lawrence

Kelby Allen

Sammi Shivock