Liberty Surges Past Hampton, 5-2, Sweeps DH
4/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Liberty softball team earned a doubleheader sweep of Hampton, scoring three unanswered runs to down the visiting Lady Pirates, 5-2, on Tuesday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames (26-24) extend their winning streak to four games after their pair of victories over Hampton. Liberty won game one earlier, 5-4, in nine innings. Hampton (15-22) sustained its fourth straight setback.
Liberty outhit Hampton, 11-8, while the Lady Flames committed five errors, compare to two for the Lady Pirates.
Liberty's Kenzie Friesen improved her record to 6-11, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits. Friesen struck out two and walk three.
Allyson Babinsack (12-9) drew the loss for the Lady Pirates, giving up five runs on 11 hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.
Madison Kotchey went 3-for-3 with a career-high two doubles and two runs scored, her first career three-hit game for Liberty. Katie Han batted 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Megan Robinson hit 2-for-4. Blair Lawrence stole her 21st base of the season, a new career high.
Taylor McCoy went 3-for-4 with a double and one run scored for Hampton, while Danielle Budden batted 2-for-4.
After turning an inning-ending double play to end Hampton's first time at bat, Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the frame. Robinson singled and went to second on a groundout. Kotchey then plated Robinson with a two-out infield single.
Hampton loaded the bases with two outs in the second stanza, before a fielder's choice quelled the rally.
Liberty also saw a bases-loaded chance go by the boards in the bottom of the second when Babinsack fanned Robinson for the third out.
The Lady Pirates capitalized on three Liberty errors in the third. McCoy scored from third after a throw got away from Kotchey with two outs, tying the game at 1-1.
The hosts reclaimed the lead during their fourth time up. Madi Clarke led off with a single to left. After a sacrifice bunt, Taylor came through with an RBI single, good for a 2-1 Liberty lead.
Hampton quickly responded, knotting the score at 2-2 with three straight hits to start the fifth. Budden singled, and McCoy followed with a double. Babinsack then hit an RBI single. Liberty got out of the inning with a fielder's choice and a double play.
Kotchey led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to the gap. Han reached on a bunt single, putting runners on the corners. Kassidy McCoy then reached on an error, with Kotchey scoring the go-ahead run on the play. Three groundouts ended the inning with Liberty ahead, 3-2.
Hampton threatened to score during the sixth stanza, as Jessica Reiman, Lorena Alvarez and Budden all singled. However, Reiman was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on Budden's base hit.
Liberty tallied two insurance runs during their last time at bat. Robinson hit a one-out single, and Kotchey followed up with a double. Han dropped a two-run single into center, making it 5-2.
Friesen and the Lady Flames infield sealed the game, retiring all three seventh-inning batters via groundout.
The Lady Flames conclude their regular-season home schedule tomorrow, hosting the Virginia Cavaliers for a doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Liberty Softball Stadium. Tomorrow's doubleheader will be Liberty's "Strikeout Cancer" game, raising funds and breast cancer awareness.
