Bishops Power Liberty to 3-2 Series-Opening Win at Longwood
4/6/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty sophomores Amber Bishop and Autumn Bishop both homered, providing all three runs for the Lady Flames in a 3-2 win during game one of a doubleheader at Longwood, Friday at Lancer Field.
With the win, conference-leading Liberty (30-8, 10-0 Big South) extends its winning streak to nine games overall while boosting its Big South winning streak to a program-record 10 games. Liberty is now 7-1 in one-run games this season. Longwood (22-12), who entered the game in second place in the Big South standings, falls to 7-3 in conference play.
Both teams registered six hits, with Longwood recording the game's only error. The Lancers left nine runners on base, compared to seven for the Lady Flames.
Autumn Bishop went 2-for-4 with a homer, one RBI and two runs scored, pushing her hitting streak to 19 games, while Amber Bishop batted 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored. This was the first time in their collegiate careers that both Bishop twins went deep in the same game. Madison Via had a double for the Lady Flames.
Kaylynn Batten batted 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored for the Lancers, while Glenn Walters and Karleigh Donovan both doubled.
Julia DiMartino (18-5) earned the win, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out five. In the process, she became just the second pitcher in program history with 500 or more career strikeouts.
Sydney Gay (16-8) drew the loss, giving up three runs on six hits, walking two and fanning four.
The Flames escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to hold on for the win. Longwood sent the tying run to the plate after two outs in the home half of the seventh, as Jordan Clark drew a walk. Martinez slapped a single into left and Batten then plated Clark with a single, going to second on the throw. An intentional walk loaded the bases for Kelly, who popped out weakly to second base to end the game.
Liberty rallied with two outs in the top of the first, as Alexia Taylor walked and Sarah Robertson was hit by a pitch. Gay then got Jaclyn Amader to pop out to the shortstop for the third out.
In the second, Via lined a one-out double into the left-center field gap. Gay left her there, as Kaitlin McFarland flied out and Jasmeen Click struck out.
Autumn Bishop lined a leadoff single to right in the third inning. After a wild pitch, Amber Bishop made it 2-0 with a two-run homer to left.
Walters led off the bottom of the third with a double to left center. Leah Powell laid down a sacrifice bunt, sending Walters to third. Via made a shoestring catch on a sinking liner, and then Destiny Martinez flied out to left, ending the inning.
Batten lined a single through the left side in the fourth frame. DiMartino then hit Donovan. Krista Kelly sent both runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt. DiMartino got out of the jam, keeping the shutout alive with a groundout and a flyout.
Amader lined a single to left with one out in the fifth before going to second on a wild pitch. A passed ball moved Amader to third. Hoffman then drew a walk and stole second. Via reached on a fielder's choice when shortstop Powell threw Amader out at the plate. McFarland grounded out to short, and the score remained 2-0.
Batten drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth. Donovan followed with a double to right center. Kelly's infield single narrowed the deficit to 2-1, plating Batten. After a popout, Kelly stole second. DiMartino got out of the jam, as Kasey Carr fouled out.
Liberty quickly responded, as Autumn Bishop launched a solo shot to right center with one out in the top of the seventh.
