Liberty University
33-12, 13-2
Bellarmine
6-29, 0-15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellarmine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Liberty Holds Off Bellarmine 2-1 to Complete Sweep
4/26/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Postgame Quotes
Liberty edged the visiting Bellarmine Knights 2-1 on Monday, wrapping up a three-game sweep at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames (33-12, 13-2 ASUN) pushed their winning streak to 12 games overall, including 10 straight ASUN wins. Meanwhile, the Knights fall to 6-29, 0-15 in ASUN play.
Liberty has secured one of the top two seeds in the ASUN North Division with one weekend series remaining at Kennesaw State (10-2 ASUN), Saturday and Sunday. The Lady Flames would need to win at least two games at KSU to clinch the No. 1 seed in the ASUN North Division.
Scoring Summary
Bellarmine – 4th INNING – Thomson flies out, sacrifice fly, Watson scores, 1-0
Liberty – 4th INNING – Keeney doubles, Via scores, 1-1
Liberty – 4th INNING – Wild pitch, Keeney scores, 2-1
Notable Numbers
- Liberty and Bellarmine both recorded six hits today, with the Knights committing the game's lone error. Both teams also left eight runners on base.
- The Lady Flames went 6-0 against Bellarmine this season, outscoring them 37-1 in the process.
- Karlie Keeney (12-4) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in four innings pitched, striking out five and walking one. She batted 1-for-2 with a double, one RBI and one run scored. Megan Johnson pitched 2/3 of an inning before McKenzie Wagoner tossed the final 2 1/3 innings. Wagoner earned her first career save, striking out three, walking one and allowing one hit.
- Megan Murphy (1-8) drew the loss, yielding two runs on six hits, walking four and fanning three.
- Denay Griffin batted 2-for-2 and drew a walk. Madison Via drew two walks, stole a base and scored a run. Liberty's 1-2-3 hitters (Autumn Bishop, Amber Bishop-Riley, Kara Canetto) had one hit apiece.
- For Bellarmine, Grace Werner batted 2-for-3, while Hannah Webb went 2-for-4. Mary Jessica Thompson recorded a sacrifice fly for the Knights' lone RBI.
Turning Point
- The two teams combined to leave 10 runners on base through the first three innings. Bellarmine broke through in the fourth. Hattie Hartman hit a leadoff double and went to third on a sacrifice bunt before Thompson's sacrifice fly put the Knights ahead.
- Liberty responded with a one-out rally in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a Keeney double. A Bishop single put runners at the corners, and Keeney scored on a wild pitch with two outs.
- Bellarmine earned two baserunners against reliever Megan Johnson in the fifth before Wagoner came on to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings of scoreless softball and nail down the save.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty has outscored opponents 68-9 during its current 12-game winning streak, its longest winning streak since posting 12 straight victories, April 10-21, 2010.
- The Lady Flames have won 10 straight ASUN games, tied for the second-longest conference winning streak in program history. Liberty posted 10 consecutive Big South victories, March 17 through April 8, 2018.
- This was the second time this week that Liberty has had to come back from a deficit to win. The Lady Flames are 6-8 this season in games where the opponent scores first.
- Via stole her 50th career base today, becoming just the fifth player in program history to record 100 or more career runs scored and 50 or more steals. She joins Tori Zavodny (2015-18, Katie Zavodny (2011-14), Stacy Radulovich (1996-99) and Libi Cook (1996-99).
- Today was Autumn Bishop's 200th consecutive start. She joins Beth Bennett (248, 2006-09) and Lauren Hahn (237, 2001-04) as the only three players in program history with 200 or more straight starts.
- Prior to Bellarmine scoring in the fourth inning, Liberty had pitched 53 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in conference play, a streak which began on April 10 against North Alabama.
- The Lady Flames are now 9-4 in one-run games this season.
Up Next
Liberty will wrap up its regular-season home schedule on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against nationally-ranked Virginia Tech.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (12-4)
L: Murphy, M. (1-8)
S: Wagoner, McKenzie (1)
Batting:
2B: Hartman, H. 1 ; Bricker, O. 1
RBI: Thomson, M. 1
SH: Young, S. 1
SF: Thomson, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Watson, C. 1
SB: Werner, G. 1
Batting:
2B: Keeney, Karlie 1
RBI: Keeney, Karlie 1
SH: Via, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Via, Madison 1 ; Keeney, Karlie 1
SB: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Via, Madison 1
