Liberty Hosts Virginia on Tuesday, Plays at JMU in Wednesday Clash
4/1/2019 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Complete Game Notes
Liberty (23-13, 6-3 ASUN), winners of four straight and six out of its last seven, welcomes Virginia (16-17) to Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium on Tuesday. The Lady Flames then travel to Harrisonburg, Va, on Wednesday at 5 p.m. to take on No. 16 James Madison (23-6).
Tuesday, April 2 - 6 p.m.
Virginia at Liberty
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Wednesday, April 3 - 5 p.m.
Liberty at James Madison
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Liberty will look to continue its recent success against the ACC. The Lady Flames are 2-2 against ACC opponents this season, and 13-4 versus the ACC since the start of the 2017 season.
On Wednesday, Liberty will aim for its second win over a Top 25 opponent this season. The Lady Flames downed then No. 19 Texas A&M 4-2 on Feb. 15. Liberty is 1-5 against nationally-ranked teams this season, including three one-run losses (UCLA, Tennessee, Texas A&M).
The Lady Flames trailed at Duke, 5-1, entering the seventh inning on Wednesday, before tying the game. Liberty scored five runs in the ninth inning, downing the Blue Devils, 10-6 in nine innings.
Liberty, the 2019 ASUN favorite, went to Fort Myers, Fla., and swept FGCU (picked second in the ASUN preseason poll) in a three-game series over the weekend. The Lady Flames outscored the Eagles 12-4, allowing just two earned runs.
Liberty senior infielder Jaclyn Amader was named ASUN Softball Co-Player of the Week on Monday, after batting .500 with three doubles, five RBI and four runs scored during a 4-0 week. Amader is hitting .400 with 11 RBI in Liberty's last 10 games.
Liberty (1.80 ERA) entered the week ranked 12th in the nation in team ERA, and the Lady Flames have tossed 11 shutouts. Liberty has thrown two no-hitters, including a perfect game from Julia DiMartino and a four-pitcher no-hitter versus Quinnipiac.
Liberty returns eight all-conference players from last year's team, led by two-time Big South Pitcher of the Year Julia DiMartino, 2019 ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Autumn Bishop and Amber Bishop. All three were named to the NFCA All-Region team each of the last two years. Autumn Bishop was named to the 2019 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
DiMartino, a two-time NFCA All-Region pitcher, has been named ASUN Pitcher of the Week three times. She is 11-6 with a 1.34 ERA (22nd nationally), .193 opponents batting average and three shutouts. Freshman Braelyn Cooper has posted a 1.09 ERA in seven appearances, while Chase Cassady is 7-1 with a 1.70 ERA and a team-best 7.3 strikeouts per seven innings.
Ammber Bishop bats .377 while also leading the team in runs (25), doubles (10), homers (six) and RBI (21). Her twin sister, Autumn Bishop, hits .371 and leads the ASUN with a .504 on base percentage. Madison Via (.319) leads the team with 11 stolen bases, while Jaclyn Amader (.311) is second on the team with 20 RBI. Sarh Robertson (.309) is second on the squad with a .437 on base percentage, while Alexis Erich's (.389 OBP) six doubles are second best by a Lady Flame.
