Friesen, Lady Flames Hold Off Princeton, 2-1
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Redshirt sophomore Kenzie Friesen tossed a complete-game three-hitter, and Liberty edged the visiting Princeton Tigers, 2-1, on Friday night at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames improve to 11-13 on the season, and 2-1 in this weekend's Liberty Softball Classic. Princeton's record stands at 5-12 after a pair of losses to Kent State and Liberty today.
Following the game, Liberty softball had its first postgame fireworks show in program history.
Friesen (3-4) pitched her second complete-game three-hitter of the campaign, yielding one run while striking out three and walking three.
Princeton freshman Ashley LaGuardia gave up two runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in the complete-game effort.
Freshman Alexia Taylor went 2-for-2 with a home run for the Lady Flames, while freshman Tori Zavodny doubled and scored one run. Senior Megan Robinson extended her hitting streak to eight and added four assists and four putouts in the field. Senior Kelby Allen is now tied for third in program history after recording her fifth career sacrifice fly in the game.
Three Tigers recorded one hit apiece, including a home run by senior Alyssa Schmidt.
The Lady Flames turned a double play to end the top of the first. Liberty struck quickly during its first time at bat, as Zavodny hit a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Allen.
Leading, 1-0 in the second, Friesen worked around an error, as Robinson made a diving catch at second for the final out.
Taylor led off the bottom of the second by launching her third homer of the season, deep and over the scoreboard in left center. LaGuardia induced three groundouts, and the Lady Flames took a 2-0 lead into the third.
Both teams played scoreless softball during the middle innings, before Princeton cut the deficit in half with one swing of the bat.
Schmidt slammed a leadoff homer to left center, drawing the Tigers to within one, 2-1. After a one-out walk to sophomore Marissa Reynolds, freshman Danielle Dockx grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Princeton's Rachel Rendina reached second on an error to lead off the sixth, but Friesen kept her there with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
The Lady Flames rallied in the sixth, as Taylor was hit by a pitch. However, pinch runner Cassie Gingerich was thrown out trying to advance to third on Jamie Crisp's single.
Junior Emily Viggers hit a leadoff single in the seventh inning, and went to second on a passed ball. After a groundout moved Viggers to third, Robinson charged on a grounder, nailing Viggers at the plate to keep Liberty ahead, 2-1. The Liberty second baseman made the final out, an unassisted fielder's choice to seal to the victory.
The Lady Flames close out their time at the Liberty Softball Classic with a pair of games tomorrow. Liberty takes on Quinnipiac at 5 p.m. before facing Toledo at 7:30 p.m.
