Lady Flames Set to Open 2015 Season at Sand Dollar Classic in Alabama
2/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Complete Game Notes
The Liberty softball team opens its second season under the guidance of Dot Richardson on Friday at 7 p.m., as the Lady Flames take on No. 23 South Alabama in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. Liberty looks to rebound from an 11-46 campaign. The team welcomes back 2014 Capital One Academic All-American and Big South All-Conference first team, senior second baseman Megan Robinson, along with its team home run leader in senior catcher, Kelby Allen.
The Lady Flames also welcome back pitchers Chandler Ball and Kenzie Friesen, both of whom are returning from knee injuries sustained last year. Coach Richardson has added eight newcomers, with seven freshmen and junior college All-American shortstop Mickey Loveridge.
The Games
While in Gulf Shores, the Lady Flames will face 2014 NCAA Regional finalist South Alabama on Friday. On Saturday, Liberty meets Lamar and Houston Baptist, both of the Southland Conference. Liberty takes on American Conference member and 2014 NCAA Regional participant Houston on Sunday to close out the weekend's schedule.
How to Follow the Lady Flames
Fans can follow all of Liberty's games at the Sand Dollar Classic this weekend through live stats. Live stats can be accessed through the Live Stats link on the softball schedule page on LibertyFlames.com.
Quick Hits
- Liberty Softball begins its 22nd year of Division I play, and second under Dot Richardson.
- Liberty is 12-16-1 in season openers, including 10-10-1 in its NCAA Division I era.
- The Lady Flames open the brand-new, 1,000-seat Liberty Softball Stadium this season.
- Senior 2B Megan Robinson is the first Academic All-American in program history.
- C Kelby Allen led the Lady Flames with nine homers last season.
- Liberty went 11-46 (4-20 Big South) last season, but went 3-3 over last six games of ‘14.
- The Lady Flames led the Big South with 92 stolen bases in 2014, ranking 23rd in nation.
- Liberty was predicted to finish 8th in Big South Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Nearly half (8 out of 17) of the roster consists of newcomers (seven Fr., one JC transfer).
Liberty vs. No. 23 South Alabama (First Meeting)
South Alabama 2014 Record: 42-14 (15-6 Sun Belt, 2nd place)
Notable: 2014 NCAA Tuscaloosa Region Finalist. Ranked 23rd in preseason national poll. The Jaguars have made three straight NCAA Regional appearances, hosting in 2013.
South Alabama Head Coach (Record at school/years): Becky Clark (273-163-1/8 yrs)
Liberty vs. Lamar (First Meeting)
Lamar 2014 Record: 20-30 (12-14 Southland, 8th place)
Notable: Lamar is in its third season after reinstating the program in 2013. The Cardinals had softball from 1983-1987, before going over 25 years without softball.
Lamar Head Coach (Record at school/years): Holly Bruder (44-65/2)
Liberty vs. Houston Baptist (First Meeting)
Houston Baptist 2014 Record: 22-28 (14-13 Southland, 5th place)
Notable: The Huskies return a pair of first team all-conference players from last year, in junior Kirsten Schwitlich and sophomore Alyssa Burnett.
Houston Baptist Head Coach (Record at school/years): Mary-Ellen Hall (730-406/23)
Liberty vs. Houston (First Meeting)
Houston 2014 Record: 33-23 (13-8, 4th place)
Notable: 2014 NCAA Waco Regional participant, going 1-2 at the national tournament. The Cougars have qualified for two NCAA Super Regionals, in 2008 and 2011.
Houston Head Coach (Record at school/years): Kyla Holas (508-320-1/14)
Top 25 Challenge
The Liberty softball team has competed against top 25 programs 47 times in program history, posting a 6-41 record versus nationally-ranked opponents. This marks the first season in program history that the Lady Flames have opened against a top 25 team.
In 2007, Liberty knocked off No. 23 Hawai'i, No. 10 Baylor and No. 6 Michigan. The Lady Flames' 2-0 win over No. 6 Michigan, March 24, 2007, marks the highest-ranked team that Liberty has beaten in softball, and the team's most recent victory over a nationally-ranked team.
South Alabama and defending national champion No. 1 Florida (Feb. 20) are the two nationally-ranked opponents on this season's schedule.
Last year, Liberty went 0-2 against ranked competition, falling to both No. 20/21 Tulsa and No. 19/13 and 2013 national champion Oklahoma on March 7, 2014 in Norman, Okla.
Season Opening
Liberty is 12-16-1 all-time in softball season openers, including a 10-10-1 mark in the NCAA Division I era (since 1994).
This will be the first time in program history that the Lady Flames will open a season in Alabama. Also, Feb. 6 ties their earliest start to a season, as the team opened the 2009 campaign against Cal State Northridge on Feb. 6 in Palm Springs, Calif.
The Lady Flames have gone 0-6-1 in their last seven season openers, with their last season-opening win coming on Feb. 17, 2007, a 5-3 victory over Appalachian State.
New Beginnings
The new Liberty Softball Stadium opens on March 19, as the Lady Flames host the Liberty Softball Classic. Liberty's first game at the new facility will be March 19 at 7:30 p.m. against Rider. The Lady Flames are scheduled to play 23 games at home this season.
The Liberty Softball Stadium has 1,000 chairback seats, and the Lady Flames are scheduled to complete their full home slate at the new facility in 2015. The new stadium has home, visiting and umpires' locker rooms, an expansive athletic training room, a state-of-the-art team meeting room, coaches' offices, a large press box, indoor batting cages and a large scoreboard and video board, among other amenities.
Finale
The Lady Flames split a doubleheader against ETSU on April 24, 2014 (W, 13-4; L, 7-13) serving as Liberty's last games in the 21-year history of the Liberty Softball Field. Liberty went 206-178 all-time at the facility.
Holly Seiz was the last Lady Flame to get a hit at Liberty Softball Field, while Megan Robinson scored Liberty's last run and Hanna Nichols hit the team's final home run.
Powering Up
Senior catcher Kelby Allen has led the Lady Flames in home runs during each of the last two seasons, finishing with 10 homers in 2013 and launching nine bombs last season. In addition, Allen hit .298 with nine doubles and 34 RBI in 2014.
Top of the Class
Senior second baseman Megan Robinson was named to the Big South All-Conference first team and Capital One Academic All-District third team last season. She became the first Academic All-American in program history. Robinson hit .303 with a team-best 10 doubles and a .526 slugging percentage to go along with eight homers and 26 RBI.
Junior Leadership
Junior Blair Lawrence is back after hitting .255 with 22 runs scored and placing second on the team with 20 steals last year. She also led Liberty outfielders with 101 putouts.
Junior Katie Han hit .260 with 15 RBI and a .347 on-base percentage last season, leading the team with 165 putouts and 15 walks on the year.
Strong Down the Stretch
The Lady Flames played their best softball down the stretch in the 2014 season. They went 4-2 over their final six games heading into the main draw of the 2014 Big South Softball Championship, including a dramatic, 8-5 win over No. 8 seed Gardner-Webb in a single elimination game. During that stretch, the Lady Flames batted .347 as a team, hitting 11 home runs while scoring an average of 7.67 runs per contest.
