Liberty to Host Virginia, Wednesday
4/20/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game Day Central
Game Notes
Liberty (29-12, 10-2 ASUN) carries an eight-game winning streak into a home game with Virginia (13-25, 9-20 ACC), Wednesday at 4 p.m. The game was rescheduled from March 23. The Cavaliers lost all four game at Notre Dame over the weekend, and host Radford on Tuesday.
Liberty vs. Virginia
Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium
Wednesday, April 21 - 4 p.m.
Live Video | Live Stats
2021 Spring Sports Admissions/Tickets
Due to COVID-19 and state regulations, capacity at all Liberty Athletics events is under a limited capacity of 250 patrons or 30 percent capacity, whichever is less based on social distancing protocols, per Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's current Phase 3 guidelines. With those guidelines in place, admission to each event has been adjusted per sport. For more information regarding availability, please click here. Softball attendance is limited to home and visiting player pass lists only.
The Lady Flames earned a 12-3, six-inning win on April 6 at Virginia, as Liberty piled up eight extra-base hits. Liberty's 12 runs were its most in a single game against an ACC opponent all-time.
Liberty is 3-1 against ACC opponents this season, and 17-9 versus the ACC since the start of the 2017 season.
The Lady Flames posted a 3-0 sweep over Lipscomb last weekend, outscoring the Bisons 12-0. It was the second time this season that Liberty has swep an ASUN opponent without allowing a single run, also shutting out Bellarmine three times, March 19-20. Emily Kirby tossed two shutouts at Lipscomb, earning her second ASUN Pitcher of the Week honor of the season, while Karlie Keeney tossed a three-hitter in the middle game.
Liberty has a league-best 0.96 ERA in ASUN play and has not allowed a run in the last 39 innings, dating to the second inning against North Alabama, April 10. That includes individual shutout innings streaks by Emily Kirby (20 IP) and Karlie Keeney (13 2/3) that have reached double digits.
The Lady Flames have outscored opponents 45-6 during their current eight-game winning streak, hitting .335 while holding opponents to just a .172 batting average. The streak started with a 3-2 walk-off win over Kennesaw State on April 3 and includes a pair of run-rule wins. Five Lady Flames are batting .400 or better during the last eight games, led by Kara Canetto (.500). Karlie Keeney (0.00 ERA) and Emily Kirby (0.81) both have tossed two shutouts during the winning streak.
Three-time NFCA All-Region player Amber Bishop-Riley bats .382 with an ASUN-leading 13 home runs, 32 runs scored and 35 RBI. Kara Canetto (.403) leads the ASUN in batting average. She has carried a .400 average deeper into a season than any Lady Flame since Tori Zavodny batted .407 through her first 51 games played in the 2017 season.
Bishop-Riley (13) and Bishop (10) are the first NCAA Division I twins to both reach 10 homers this season, edging out Maddi and Kindra Hackbarth of Arizona State for that distinction.
Two-time NFCA All-Region player Autumn Bishop (.344) is tied for fifth nationally with 15 doubles, while Savannah Channell bats .292. Madison Via (.277) has batted .367 (11-for-30) in ASUN play. Emily Sweat (.250) is tied for second in the ASUN with a career-high 10 doubles. Devyn Howard (.304) has hit eight doubles in just 46 at bats this season.
Liberty has fashioned 12 shutouts this season, including eight in conference play. Karlie Keeney (10-4, 2.64, four shutouts) is tied for third in the ASUN in wins. Emily Kirby (9-4, 2.02) has tossed six shutouts, the most shutouts by a Liberty left-hander since 1999 (Leslie Inge - 8). Kirby leads the ASUN with 9.11 strikeouts per seven innings in conference play. Megan Johnson (3-2, 3.20) has posted a 0.84 ERA in conference play this year. McKenzie Wagoner (4-2, 3.00) picked up her fourth win of the season with a strong relief outing at Virginia, April 6.
