Liberty University
21-9, 3-0
Bellarmine
4-16, 0-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Bellarmine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Liberty Closes Out Shutout Sweep of Bellarmine
3/20/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty held Bellarmine scoreless for the entire series, capping a three-game series sweep with a 2-0 win over the Knights on Saturday at Knights Field.
Liberty (21-9, 3-0) pushed its winning streak to four games, with all four victories being shutouts. The Knights fall to 4-16, 0-6 in ASUN play with their 10th straight loss.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 7th INNING – Bishop doubles, Sweat and Via score, 2-0
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Bellarmine 5-2, with both teams committing one error. The Lady Flames left six runners on base, while the Knights stranded four.
- The Lady Flames posted their fourth straight shutout and sevnth of the season. Liberty has not allowed a run in its last 32 innings pitched, dating back to the third inning of last Sunday's game against No. 1 Oklahoma.
- Megan Johnson (2-1) earned the win, allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out five in six innings pitched. Emily Kirby nailed down her first career save, striking out one in a scoreless inning of work.
- Carson Goatley (2-5) drew the loss, allowing two unearned runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two.
- Autumn Bishop batted 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Kara Canetto batted 2-for-3. Madison Via went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Turning Point
- Liberty cashed in on an extended seventh inning, as Emily Sweat reached on an error to lead off. With two outs, Via singled, and Bishop followed with a two-run double.
- The first two Knights reached base in the bottom of the seventh, on a single and an error. Kirby entered in relief of Johnson. A sacrifice bunt moved the tying run to second base, but Kirby sealed the shutout with a strikeout and popout.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty is now 3-0 all-time against Bellarmine in softball.
- Liberty has pitched four shutouts in a row for the first time since Feb. 21 through March 8, 2019, when the Lady Flames went on a program-record nine-game shutout streak.
- The Lady Flames are 19-1 this season against unranked opponents.
- Kirby has pitched 18 shutout innings in a row, beginning with a 10-inning masterpiece at No. 13 Arkansas on Tuesday.
- Autumn Bishop extended her program record to 64 career doubles with her 11th double of the season. Her 11 doubles are the most she has hit in a single season since hitting a program-record 25 doubles in 2018.
- Liberty has now gotten the game-winning hit in the seventh inning or later in eight different games this year. Bishop is the seventh different Lady Flame with an RBI hit in the seventh inning or later in a game this season.
- Liberty is 3-1 in two-run games this season.
- This was the second time in program history that Liberty held a team scoreless throughout an entire three-game conference series. The Lady Flames shut out Presbyterian three straight games, April 7-8, 2017.
- Liberty is off to its best 30-game start to a season since opening the 2018 campaign at 22-8. That year, the Lady Flames finished 49-14 and made their first appearance in an NCAA Regional final.
Up Next
The Lady Flames will next compete in a three-game series at Lipscomb, next Saturday and Sunday. Liberty's home game against Virginia, originally scheduled for Tuesday, has been rescheduled for April 21.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Megan (2-1)
L: Goatley, C. (2-6)
S: Kirby, Emily (1)
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1
RBI: Bishop, Autumn 2
SH: Via, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sweat, Emily 1 ; Via, Madison 1
Batting:
SH: Thomson, M. 1
