Liberty Overwhelms Fairleigh Dickinson, 9-0
2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty posted a six-run second inning and got a three-hit shutout from Chase Cassady, on the way to a 9-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson, Friday at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.
With the win, the Lady Flames (2-0) have swept both games during the first day of the 2017 season, at the Dot Richardson Invitational. Liberty outscored its two opponents today, 14-1. Fairleigh Dickinson (0-2) lost to both Morgan State and Liberty today.
Liberty outhit the Knights, 12-3, while the Flames stole a season-high seven bases.
Cassady (1-0) allowed just three hits, striking out five and walking one while fashioning her second career shutout.
FDU's Cheryl Lopez (0-1) gave up seven runs on nine hits, walking four and striking out two in three innings. Baylee Ports allowed two runs on three hits in the final two innings.
Sarah Robertson went 3-for-4 with a triple and a career-high four RBI. Alexia Taylor batted 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jasmeen Click went 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, while Autumn Bishop also stole two bases.
The Lady Flames scored a first-inning run, with Robertson hitting a leadoff single. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, Amber Bishop plated Robertson with an RBI base hit.
Summer Mendoza reached on an error to start the FDU first. Kellie Natham drew a one-out walk, before Mendoza was caught stealing. Cassady fanned Reanna Cervantes for the third out.
Liberty pulled away with six runs in the second. Taylor scored on an infield single, before Robertson lined a two-run triple to right center for a 4-0 lead. Hoffman then scored Robertson with an infield single, and Taylor made it 7-0 with a two-run single.
Cassady retired six straight batters, spanning the first through third innings. Mendoza singled with two outs in the bottom of the third. Cassady struck out Serena Meehan, sending the game to the fourth.
The Lady Flames tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth off of reliever Ports. Deidra drew a leadoff walk, and Taylor then singled to left center. Robertson later lined a two-out, two-run single, giving Liberty a nine-run advantage.
Cassady worked around a two-out single, sealing the shutout, run-rule victory.
Liberty will play twice tomorrow, starting with an 11 a.m. game against Chattanooga. The Lady Flames will then take on Fairleigh Dickinson at 4 p.m.
