Liberty University
20-9, 2-0
Bellarmine
4-15, 0-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Bellarmine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Kirby Fans 15 in 3-0 Win Over Bellarmine
3/20/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty junior Emily Kirby struck out a career-high 15 batters in a one-hit shutout, as the Lady Flames topped Bellarmine 3-0 in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday at Knights Field.
Liberty (20-9, 2-0) earned its third straight win, with all three coming via shutout. Meanwhile, Bellarmine fell to 4-15, 0-5 in ASUN play with its ninth consecutive loss.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 6th INNING – Canetto reaches on error, Bishop scores, 1-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Hudson grounds out, Bishop-Riley scores, 2-0
Liberty – 7th INNING – Sweat homers, 3-0
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Bellarmine 7-1, with the Knights committing the game's lone error. The Lady Flames left five runners on base, while Bellarmine stranded two.
- The Lady Flames posted their third straight shutout and sixth of the season. Liberty has not allowed a run in its last 25 innings pitched, dating back to the third inning of last Sunday's game against No. 1 Oklahoma.
- Kirby (6-3) pitched her fourth shutout of the season and second in a row, striking out 15 and walking just one while allowing one hit. Her 15 strikeouts are the most by a Lady Flame since Tiffani Smith struck out a program-record 16 batters on April 24, 2009 against Presbyterian.
- Bellarmine's Natalie Magnus (1-4) drew the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out three.
- Autumn Bishop went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored, her second straight three-hit game. Emily Sweat went 1-for-1 with a homer and one RBI, while Caroline Hudson batted 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Hannah Webb was the lone baserunner in the game for Bellarmine, with a single in the fourth inning and a walk in the sixth.
Turning Point
- After threatening to score several times in the early going, Liberty cashed in during the sixth inning. Bishop and Bishop-Riley hit back-to-back singles to lead off. Kara Canetto reached on an error, with Bishop scoring on the play. A Hudson groundout sent Bishop-Riley home with a 2-0 lead.
- Sweat gave Liberty an insurance run with her pinch-hit homer in the seventh.
Beyond the Box Score
- Kirby struck out three batters in both the second and sixth innings, and had two strikeouts in the first, fourth and fifth frames.
- Liberty has pitched three shutouts in a row for the first time since May 16-18, 2019, when they shut out Rutgers, Kent State and Marshall to claim the 2019 NISC Regional title.
- The Lady Flames are 18-1 this season against unranked opponents.
- Kirby has pitched 17 shutout innings in a row, beginning with a 10-inning masterpiece at No. 13 Arkansas on Tuesday.
- Autumn Bishop extended her program record to 63 career doubles with her 10th double of the season. Her 10 doubles are the most she has hit in a single season since hitting a program-record 25 doubles in 2018.
- Sweat's pinch-hit homer in the seventh was Liberty's second pinch-hit home run in the last three games, joining Denay Griffin's 10th-inning two-run blast on Tuesday at No. 13 Arkansas.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kirby, Emily (6-3)
L: Magnus, N. (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1
HR: Sweat, Emily 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Sweat, Emily 1
SH: Canetto, Kara 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Bishop-Riley, Amber 1 ; Sweat, Emily 1
CS: Wilson, Mary Claire 1
