Lady Flames Dominate Morgan State, 8-0
2/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty posted its second straight shutout to start the season, getting a three-hitter from Chase Cassady while downing Morgan State, 8-0, in five innings on Friday at the National Training Center.
Liberty (2-0) blanked both Fairleigh Dickinson and Morgan State to open the Dot Richardson Invitational today. This is the first time since 1995 the Lady Flames have pitched consecutive shutouts to begin a campaign. Morgan State fell to both Chattanooga and Liberty today.
On the day, Liberty outhit the Bears, 8-3. The Lady Flames stole five bases.
Cassady (1-0) pitched her fifth career shutout, allowing just three hits while also striking out six batters and walking two.
Stephanie Rundlett (0-1) drew the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits while walking five and fanning one in four innings of work. Evvie Buehlmann pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits.
Jaclyn Amader went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBI, tripling for the second game in a row. Autumn Bishop doubled and stole two bases, while going 2-for-3. Jasmeen Click went 2-for-3 with two steals.
Three different Bears had one hit apiece.
Damali Young drew a leadoff walk, but was then erased on a strikeout-throwout double play.
Liberty took a quick 1-0 lead in the first. Autumn Bishop hit a leadoff single before stealing second. A walk to Zavodny and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Amber Bishop then grounded out to short, driving in Zavodny before Autumn Bishop was erased at the plate. Rundlett escaped further damage, getting Sarah Robertson to pop out.
Cassady allowed just one hit through the first three innings, striking out six batters during that span.
Liberty added three runs in the third. Click bunted for a leadoff single and stole second. Autumn Bishop then roped an RBI double to center. After a one-out walk to Amber Bishop, Alexia Taylor grounded into a fielder's choice. However, the throw was wild, allowing a run to score and Amber Bishop to advance to third. Robertson then hit a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Following a 1-2-3 Morgan State fourth, the Lady Flames tallied one fourth-inning run. Amader lined a one-out double to left, and Click's bunt single put runners at the corners. Rundlett walked the next two batters, forcing a run home. She got a flyout to end the inning.
Morgan State managed two singles in the top of the fifth. A double steal sent runners to second and third with one out, but Young fouled out to end the threat.
The Lady Flames put the game out of reach in the fifth frame. Madison Via singled with one out and then stole second. Deidra See hit a single, putting runners on the corners. Amader then tripled to right center, plating two runs. She later scored on a passed ball, ending the game at 8-0.
Liberty returns to the field for two games tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. against Chattanooga. Liberty is then scheduled to face Toledo at 1:30 p.m.
