Liberty University
18-9
Arkansas
20-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Lady Flames Upset No. 13 Arkansas 2-0 in 10 Innings
3/16/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty halted Arkansas' 19-game winning streak, as junior Emily Kirby tossed a 10-inning, five-hit shutout and Denay Griffin hit a game-winning two-run homer in a 2-0 win over the Razorbacks, Tuesday at Bogle Park.
Liberty (18-9) earned its 12th win over a Top 25 team in program history and first this season. Arkansas (20-3) lost for the first time since a 7-4 setback to McNeese on Feb. 20.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 10th INNING – Griffin homers, Wilson scores, 2-0
Notable Numbers
- Liberty held a 6-5 advantage in hits, while also committing two errors. Arkansas came into the game ranked second in the nation in home runs with 53. The Razorbacks were shut out for the first time since a 5-0 loss to Montana on Feb. 22, 2020.
- Arkansas was ranked as highly as No. 13 this week, by D1Softball.com.
- Liberty posted its fourth shutout of the season, with Kirby accounting for three of those blankings.
- Kirby (5-3) tossed her fourth career shutout, and third this season, striking out eight while walking four and allowing five hits. Tonight, Kirby tied Julia DiMartino (four-hitter versus No. 24 Hofstra on May 18, 2018) for the longest shutout win in program history.
- Arkansas' Mary Haff falls to 12-2 with the loss, yielding two runs on six hits while striking out nine.
- Kara Canetto went 2-for-4, while Griffin batted 1-for-1 with a homer, two RBI and one run scored. It was Griffin's second pinch-hit homer of her career, and first since Feb. 7, 2020 against Illinois.
- Aly Manzo went 2-for-5 for the Razorbacks, the only Arkansas batter with multiple hits.
Turning Point
- With the game tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Valerie Ventura hit a leadoff single. A sacrifice sent her to second with two outs. Kirby got Arkansas' top power hitter, Braxton Burnside, to fly out.
- Caroline Hudson led off the 10th with a single. A sacrifice by Emily Sweat sent pinch runner Mary Claire Wilson to second. Pinch hitter Denay Griffin pounded an 0-2 pitch deep over the fence in left for a 2-0 lead.
- Danielle Gibson reached on a two-base error to begin the bottom of the 10th, but Kirby shut the door from there, retiring the next three batters. When Manzo's foul ball landed in Autumn Bishop's glove, the Lady Flames celebrated a major win.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty is now 2-0 against Arkansas all-time, defeating the Razorbacks on Feb. 13, 2015 and again tonight.
- The Lady Flames are 1-8 against Top 25 teams this season, and have beaten six nationally-ranked opponents in the last four seasons. Tonight was Liberty's first Top 25 win since defeating No. 6 Michigan in Columbia, S.C., last season.
- Five out of Liberty's six wins over nationally-ranked opponents under Coach Richardson have come in SEC stadiums.
- Liberty is now 2-1 all-time in extra-inning games against Top 25 opponents. The Lady Flames defeated No. 24 Hofstra 2-0 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Columbia regional, getting a go-ahead homer from Kaitlin McFarland in the 10th inning and also getting a four-hitter from Julia DiMartino.
- This was Liberty's fifth-ever shutout of a Top 25 team, and first shutout of an SEC program.
- Current Liberty assistant coach Kasey Fagan played at Arkansas in 2014 and 2015. In fact, she was the Razorbacks' starting shortstop on Feb. 13, 2015, when Liberty picked up its first-ever win over an SEC program, a 5-2 win against Arkansas.
- Liberty infielder Savannah Channell competed against her sister, as Rylin Hedgecock is a redshirt freshman on Arkansas' team.
Up Next
The Lady Flames open up ASUN Conference play with a weekend series at conference newcomer Bellarmine on Friday and Saturday in Louisville, Ky. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 3 p.m., while the Saturday doubleheader begins at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kirby, Emily (5-3)
L: Haff (12-2)
Batting:
HR: Griffin, Denay 1
RBI: Griffin, Denay 2
SH: Sweat, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilson, Mary Claire 1 ; Griffin, Denay 1
Batting:
SH: Torres 1 ; Huffine 1
Base Running:
HBP: Gibson 1
