Liberty University
2-0
Middle Tennessee
1-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Liberty | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
Liberty Run-Rules Middle Tennessee, 8-0
2/12/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty's hitting and defense backed up a five-hit shutout by junior Emily Kirby, as the Lady Flames claimed an 8-0, six-inning victory over Middle Tennessee on Friday.
The Lady Flames went 2-0 today at The Spring Games, opening the season with wins over Pitt and Middle Tennessee by a combined score of 18-4. The Blue Raiders split a pair of games today.
These two teams will meet again on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 1st INNING – Canetto singles, Bishop and Bishop-Riley score, 2-0
Liberty – 1st INNING – Sweat homers, Canetto and Gibson score, 5-0
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Wilson steals second, scores on two throwing errors, 6-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Bishop triples, Via scores, 7-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Hudson singles, Bishop scores
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Middle Tennessee 11-5. The Blue Raiders sustained two errors while Liberty committed one error. Middle Tennessee left nine runner on base, compared to five stranded for the Lady Flames.
- Kirby (1-0) pitched her second career shutout, allowing five hits and walking four, striking out two in the six-inning complete game.
- Mia Marinakis (0-1) drew the loss, yielding five runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings before Kailey Ahlstrom came on to pitch the final 4 2/3 frames.
- Autumn Bishop (triple, RBI, two runs), Caroline Hudson (one RBI) and Savannah Channel had two hits apiece for the Lady Flames. Emily Sweat hit her third career homer, a three-run shot in the first. Madison Via had a double, while Kara Canetto drove in two.
- Five different Blue Raiders had one hit apiece.
Turning Point
- Liberty jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, by way of a two-run RBI single from Canetto and Sweat's three-run blast.
- Kirby pitched through trouble in the second inning, leaving runners on second and third. She then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third, as Autumn Bishop snagged a line drive for the third out.
Beyond the Box Score
- Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 3-2 against the Lady Flames, a series whose last meeting was Feb. 14, 2015 (Middle Tennessee won, 8-7).
- Liberty scored eight first-inning runs today, striking for three runs in the first inning against Pitt before scoring five runs in the first against Middle Tennessee.
- Kirby's five-hit shutout was her first shutout since tossing a three-hitter at Hampton on April 26, 2018.
- Autumn Bishop passed Katie Zavodny (2011-14) into seventh place in program history with 215 career hits. She is also now tied for seventh at Liberty with seven triples.
- In both of today's games, Liberty built an 8-0 lead.
- Liberty is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since opening the 2018 season with six straight wins.
- The Lady Flames' 18 combined runs in today's two games are the most they have ever scored on opening day.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kirby, Emily (1-0)
L: MARINAKIS, Mia (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Via, Madison 1
3B: Bishop, Autumn 1
HR: Sweat, Emily 1
RBI: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Canetto, Kara 2 ; Sweat, Emily 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Bishop, Autumn 2 ; Bishop-Riley, Amber 1 ; Gibson, Blake 1 ; Canetto, Kara 1 ; Sweat, Emily 1 ; Wilson, Mary Claire 1 ; Via, Madison 1
SB: Wilson, Mary Claire 1
HBP: Gibson, Blake 1
