Lady Flames Trounce Camels, 8-0, in Big South Opener
3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty opened its Big South Conference schedule with an 8-0, five-inning victory over the visiting Campbell Camels, Saturday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
With the win, Liberty improves to 18-7 on the season, opening its Big South slate with a win for the fourth year in a row. It is also the second straight year that Julia DiMartino tossed a five-inning shutout in the Lady Flames' conference opener. Campbell falls to 12-14, including 2-2 in conference play.
DiMartino (11-4) tossed a two-hit shutout, her fifth shutout of the season and 19th of her career. She struck out eight batters while not issuing a walk. DiMartino became the fourth player in program history to reach 50 career wins, and the first to do it as a junior.
Megan Richards (9-6) drew the loss, allowing four runs on one hit, walking four in 1/3 of an inning pitched. Hannah McCravy pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and walking one. Haley Hutchins lasted 2 1/3 innings, yielding one run on three hits.
For Liberty, the top three batters in the order hit a combined 7-for-7 with two doubles, a homer, two walks, three RBI and seven runs scored. Autumn Bishop hit a homer while going 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Amber Bishop (3-for-3) and Tori Zavodny (2-for-2) both doubled, drove in one run and scored twice.
Campbell's Madison Herring and Christa Hall both managed one hit.
DiMartino was in control all game, beginning with the first inning, when she fanned two batters.
Richards' wildness opened the door for a four-run Liberty first inning. She walked four batters and gave up one hit, walking Sarah Robertson with the bases loaded for the first run of the game. After a Jaclyn Amader sacrifice fly made it 2-0, McCravy entered the circle in relief of Richards. Madison Via then lined a two-run single to right center, boosting the lead to 4-0. McCravy escaped further damaged by getting the next two batters to ground out.
After a 1-2-3 Campbell second, Liberty added three runs to its advantage in the bottom of the inning. Autumn Bishop led off with a single and then scored on an Amber Bishop double. Zavodny then doubled deep to center, scoring Amber Bishop for a 6-0 cushion. Sarah Robertson's sacrifice fly pushed the lead to seven runs. Hutchins later relieved McCravy, getting the final out of the innings.
Hall broke up DiMartino's no-hit bid with a two-out single in the third, but DiMartino struck out Megan Mozingo for the third out to end the frame.
Autumn Bishop launched a solo shot to left center with one out in the bottom of the third, putting Liberty in run-rule position.
DiMartino sealed the victory with another two scoreless innings. With two outs in the fifth, Herring doubled down the line in right field. The Liberty right-hander then fanned Melissa Tullar, capping the shutout and ending the game after five innings.
