Virginia Earns DH Split with 4-2 Win at Liberty
4/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Virginia picked up a 4-2 victory in game two of Wednesday's twin bill at Liberty, earning a split at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.??????
The Cavaliers (16-37) snapped a four-game winless streak. The Lady Flames (27-25) saw their season-high five-game winning streak come to an end. Liberty went 6-3 during its nine-game homestand, wrapping up the first season at Liberty Softball Stadium with a 13-10 home record.
Dwayne and Gail Kamphuis, after whom the field is named, were on hand on Wednesday. Dwayne Kamphuis threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the second game between the Lady Flames and Cavaliers.
Virginia's Aimee Chapdelaine (5-4) earned the win with a complete-game effort, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, while striking out six and walking one.
Abby Tincher (2-6) sustained the loss after yielding four runs on six hits, with six walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Kenzie Friesen pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit while recording one walk and one strikeout.
Brittany McNulla batted 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for the Cavaliers. Danni Ingraham hit a double, while Chapdelaine and Heidi Velk stole one base each.
Blair Lawrence scored both of Liberty's runs while also stealing her team-best 23rd base of the season. Katie Han went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, while Kelby Allen and Kassidy McCoy had one hit apiece.
The first two Cavaliers reached base to start the game, on a walk to Allison Davis and a single by Hughes. Tincher retired the next three batters, keeping the game scoreless.
Virginia took a 1-0 lead during the top of the second. McNulla hit a leadoff double and scored on an error on a bunt play. The Lady Flames got out of the inning when Allen caught two runners stealing.
The visitors added two runs in the fourth. Chapdelaine drew a one-out walk and stole second, advancing to third on an error. Velk then hit an RBI single. With the bases loaded and one out, Kaitlin Fitzgerald hit a sacrifice fly to give Virginia a 3-0 advantage.
Chapdelaine retired nine out of the first 10 batters she faced, with McCoy's single in the third the only blemish on her pitching record through three innings.
Liberty broke through in the fourth frame, with Lawrence reaching on an error to lead off. Lawrence stole second with two outs, and scored on an RBI double to left center by Han. McCoy fouled out for the third out.
After a one-out double by McNulla and walk to Madison Labshere in the fifth, Friesen relieved Tincher. Chapdelaine gave UVA an insurance run with an RBI single. After walking Velk, Friesen set down the next two batters, leaving the bases full.
Friesen retired the Cavaliers in order in both the sixth and seventh innings, needing just eight pitches total to do so.
Liberty trimmed the deficit to two with some heads-up baserunning in the bottom of the sixth. Lawrence walked and Allen hit a single. Madison Kotchey grounded into a fielder's choice and beat out the double-play attempt. Lawrence never stopped, crossing the plate with Liberty's second run. Han grounded out to first, sending the game to the seventh.
Chapdelaine tossed a 1-2-3 seventh to wrap up the 4-2 victory for the Cavaliers.
The Lady Flames wrap up their regular-season Big South schedule this weekend, playing at Winthrop. Liberty will take on the Eagles in a doubleheader on Friday, with game one starting at 5 p.m. The series will conclude with a single game, Saturday at noon at Terry Field.
