Liberty University
34-12
Virginia Tech
28-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
Late Hudson Homers Propel Liberty to 5-3, Walk-Off Win Over No. 18 Virginia Tech
4/28/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Top Plays
Postgame Interviews - Caroline Hudson
Postgame Interviews - Karlie Keeney
Postgame Interviews - Coach Richardson
Liberty catcher Caroline Hudson hit a game-tying three-run homer in the seventh inning and later launched a two-run blast to seal a nine-inning, 5-3 win over No. 18 Virginia Tech on Wednesday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames (34-12) extended their winning streak to 13 games with their second win over a Top 25 team this season. Virginia Tech, ranked as high as No. 18 by Softball America this week, fell to 28-12 with its fifth straight loss.
Liberty has tied a program record with six walk-off wins this season, as the Lady Flames recorded six walk-off victories in 2010.
Scoring Summary
Virginia Tech – 2nd INNING – Lawter homers, Ritter scores, 2-0
Virginia Tech – 3rd INNING – Milius homers, 3-0
Liberty – 7th INNING – Hudson homers, Via and Jones score, 3-3
Liberty – 9th INNING – Hudson homers, Via scores, 5-3
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Virginia Tech 8-6 on the game. The Lady Flames left seven runners on base, while the Hokies stranded five runners.
- Karlie Keeney (13-4) earned the win, pitching 6 2/3 innings of three-hit, scoreless softball during which she struck out three and walked one. Emily Kirby yielded three runs on three hits, walking two and fanning one in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
- Keely Rochard (20-7) drew the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out 11 and walking three.
- Hudson batted 2-for-4 with a career-high two homers, five RBI and two runs scored. Kara Canetto extended her hitting streak to 12 games, going 2-for-4. Autumn Bishop hit her ASUN-leading 16th double of the season.
- Virginia Tech leadoff hitter Kelsey Brown batted 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, while Mackenzie Lawter and Alexa Milius both homered.
Turning Point
- Virginia Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead, hitting homers off of Kirby in the second and third innings. Keeney entered in the third and tossed shutout softball from then on.
- With Liberty trailing 3-0 and one out in the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Naomi Jones was hit by a pitch and Madison Via singled. Hudson then came through with a game-tying three-run blast to left center.
- Virginia Tech threatened to take the lead in the top of the eighth, as Brown and Cameron Fagan both singled to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, but Brown was erased at the plate on a fielder's choice and Kelsey Bennett grounded out.
- With the score still tied in the bottom of the ninth, Via drew a leadoff walk and Hudson ended it with her second homer of the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty has outscored opponents 73-12 during its current 13-game winning streak, its longest winning streak since posting a program-record 19 straight victories, April 14 through May 19, 2018.
- The Lady Flames are 7-8 this season when the opponent scores first.
- Head Coach Dot Richardson recorded her 250th career coaching win tonight, improving to 250-189 in her career, all at Liberty.
- Liberty has won each of the last two meetings with Virginia Tech, both at home. The Hokies hold a 36-16 all-time advantage in the series. Liberty is now 3-4 against Virginia Tech when the Hokies are nationally-ranked at time of meeting.
- This was the Lady Flames' second win over a Top 25 program this season (also 2-0 in 10 innings at No. 13 Arkansas on March 16) and 13th in program history. It was the first win over a Top 25 team at home all-time.
- Tonight marked Liberty's second-ever walk-off win over a nationally-ranked opponent. On Feb. 23, 2020, Amber Bishop-Riley hit a leadoff homer in the seventh inning to give Liberty a 6-5 walk-off win over No. 6 Michigan.
- Hudson tied Bishop-Riley's program records from that game against Michigan for most homers (2) and RBI (5) in a single game against a nationally-ranked opponent.
- Virginia Tech pitcher Keely Rochard was listed on the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalists list. Liberty is now 2-2 against pitchers who are Top 25 Finalists, defeating Rochard and Arkansas's Mary Haff and falling to Alabama's Montana Fouts and Tennessee's Ashley Rogers.
- Prior to allowing a second-inning homer today, Liberty had gone 13 straight games without allowing a home run.
- Also, Emily Kirby saw her scoreless innings streak end at 27 1/3 innings, the seventh longest consecutive scoreless innings streak in program history.
- The Lady Flames are now 5-1 in two-run games this season.
- Autumn Bishop hit her 69th career double, tying her for 12th all-time in NCAA Division I softball history.
- This was the 10th game that Liberty won with a winning hit in the seventh inning or later. Those game winners have come from eight different players.
Up Next
Liberty heads to Kennesaw, Ga., for its final ASUN series of the regular season, as the Lady Flames take on Kennesaw State on Saturday and Sunday. Liberty and KSU are currently the top two teams in ASUN North Division standings, and the No. 1 seed will be decided this weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (13-4)
L: K. Rochard (20-7)
Batting:
HR: A. Milius 1 ; M. Lawter 1
RBI: A. Milius 1 ; M. Lawter 2
SH: A. Milius 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A. Milius 1 ; E. Ritter 1 ; M. Lawter 1
SB: K. Brown 2 ; C. Fagan 1 ; A. Milius 1
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1
HR: Hudson, Caroline 2
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Naomi 1 ; Via, Madison 2 ; Hudson, Caroline 2
HBP: Jones, Naomi 1
