Liberty University
27-12, 8-2
Lipscomb
14-14, 3-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Lipscomb | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Shutout Streak Continues, Liberty Blanks Lipscomb 2-0 in Series Opener
4/17/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty opened a three-games series at Lipscomb with a 2-0 shutout victory on Saturday at Draper Diamond, as junior Emily Kirby struck out 10 batters.
With the win, their sixth in a row, the Lady Flames improve to 27-12, including 8-2 in ASUN play. The Bisons, the 2019 ASUN champions, fall to 14-14 overall and 3-5 in ASUN games.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 4th INNING – Keeney reaches on error, Hodum scores, 1-0
Liberty – 7th INNING – Bishop-Riley singles, Sweat scores, 2-0
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Lipscomb 4-3, with three out of the Lady Flames' hits coming in the seventh inning. Both teams committed two errors. The guests left eight runners on base, while the hosts stranded four.
- Liberty posted its 10th shutout of the season and sixth in ASUN play. That is Liberty's most conference shutouts since 2018, when the team tossed eight shutouts in Big South games.
- The Lady Flames have not allowed a run in their last 25 innings pitched.
- Emily Kirby (8-4) tossed her fifth shutout of the season, striking out 10 and walking one while allowing just three hits. She is the first Liberty left-handed pitcher since Leslie Inge in 2000 with five shutouts in a single season.
- Breana Burke (10-4) drew the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, walking five and striking out two.
- Autumn Bishop (1-for-3) and Emily Sweat (1-for-2, run scored) both doubled for the Lady Flames, while Amber Bishop had an RBI single.
- Caitlin Turner had a two-hit game for the Bisons.
Turning Point
- Liberty took advantage of two Lipscomb errors in the top of the fourth. Bishop-Riley reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Megan Hodum went to third on a groundout and scored when Karlie Keeney reached on an error.
- The Lady Flames added an insurance run in the seventh. Sweat hit a leadoff double and later scored on an RBI single by Bishop-Riley for a 2-0 lead.
- Turner led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, and a one-out walk put two runners on. However, a fielder's choice and groundout closed out the shutout.
Beyond the Box Score
- These two teams are making up a series that was scheduled for March 26-27 in Nashville and was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
- Liberty now leads the all-time series 4-2 following its first appearance at Draper Diamond all-time.
- Bishop extended her hitting streak to 12 games. It is the sixth hitting streak of 10 or more games in her career. Bishop is batting .486 (18-for-37) with seven doubles, four homers, 12 RBI and 11 runs scored during her current 12-game hitting streak. She is now tied for 16th all-time in NCAA Division I softball history with 68 career doubles.
- Bishop-Riley played in and started her 254th career game, passing former teammate Sarah Robertson (2016-19) for Liberty's career records in games played and games started. Bishop-Riley is also Liberty's career record holder in hits, RBI, homers, at bats and total bases.
- Kirby is the first Lady Flame since Julia DiMartino in 2019 with three 10-strikeout games in a single season.
- Kirby has not allowed a run in her last 13 innings pitched.
- Liberty has posted three straight ASUN shutouts, its most consecutive conference shutouts since shutting out Big South opponents in four straight games from April 7-14, 2017.
- Current Liberty associate head coach Paige Cassady returned to Draper Diamond for the first time since 2013, when she was an assistant coach on Lipscomb's coaching staff before joining Liberty's staff.
- Liberty is now 23-4 this season when scoring first in a game and 4-1 in two-run games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kirby, Emily (8-4)
L: BURKE (10-6)
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Sweat, Emily 1
RBI: Bishop-Riley, Amber 1
SH: Via, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hodum, Megan 1 ; Sweat, Emily 1
Base Running:
CS: DAVIS 1
