Liberty Posts 9-0 Blanking of Winthrop
5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty scored nine runs from the second through fourth innings, backing Chase Cassady's two-hit shutout as the Lady Flames downed Winthrop, 9-0, in five innings to complete a doubleheader sweep, Friday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames (43-12, 17-3) pushed their winning streak to a program-record-tying 13 games overall, while also setting a new program record with 17 conference wins. Liberty has also clinched at least a share of its fifth-ever Big South regular-season title, and second in a row. Liberty has won a program-record 17 straight home games. Winthrop falls to 17-29, 7-13 in Big South play entering tomorrow's regular-season finale.
Liberty outhit Winthrop, 12-2 on the evening. The Lady Flames posted their Big South-leading 17th shutout of the season. Liberty also recorded five doubles, and has tied its program single-season record, set in 2017, of 92 doubles.
Cassady (10-2) allowed just two hits, striking out three in the complete game. It was her fifth shutout of the season, and ninth for her career. She has not allowed a run in her last 17 innings pitched, tossing three straight shutouts.
Winthrop's Madyson Watson falls to 5-7 with the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking one in three innings pitched. Sabrina Shroades and Keleigh Romine combined to pitch the final inning.
Sarah Robertson went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored, while Kaitlin McFarland batted 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBI and one run scored. Robertson became the 11th player in program history to reach 100 career RBI, and the seventh to post both 100 career runs scored and 100 career RBI. Madison Via and Jaclyn Amader both registered two hits, with Amader adding a double.
Winthrop got the first hit of the game, as Romine singled with one out in the second. However, Cassady went on to retire the next nine batters she faced.
While Cassady kept the Eagles at bay, Liberty's offense went to work in the second inning. Robertson bunted for a single to lead off, before McFarland powered an RBI triple down the right-field line. Via then plated McFarland with a single for a 2-0 lead. Taylor Hoffman walked, and a double-steal play put runners at second and third. Alexia Taylor flied out the right field, and Via was thrown out at the plate.
In the third inning, much like the second, a bunt single set the table for a big inning, this time coming from Jessica Cicerchia. Amader followed with a single, going to second on the throw. Robertson then doubled to the gap in left center, doubling Liberty's lead to four runs. McFarland followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0, Lady Flames.
Liberty added four runs in the fourth, an inning started by Taylor's double off the left-field fence against reliever Shroades. After two outs, Cicerchia drew a walk. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Amader and Robertson (two-run) extended the advantage to 8-0. McFarland capped Liberty's scoring with an RBI single to right, good for a 9-0 lead.
Winthrop's Makenzye Whitman singled with one out in the fifth, but Kiley Majette grounded into a 6-3, game-ending double play.
Liberty and Winthrop will close out their regular-season schedules with a single game tomorrow at 10 a.m. Prior to the game, Liberty will honor its five seniors – Jessica Cicerchia, Madi Clarke, Cassie Gingerich, Alexia Taylor and Tori Zavodny – with a pregame ceremony. Liberty would clinch the No. 1 seed for the 2018 Big South Softball Championship with a win tomorrow.
