Liberty University
0-3
Northwestern
3-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Northwestern | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | X | 8 | 8 | 1 |
23rd-Ranked Northwestern Tops No. 24 Lady Flames 8-2
2/12/2022 4:33:07 PM | Softball
In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, No. 23 Northwestern jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead on the way to an 8-2 win over 24th-ranked Liberty, Saturday at Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 3-1 on the season, while Liberty remains in search of its first win at 0-3. Both teams will conclude their time at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights Tournament tomorrow.
Liberty entered the season ranked 24th in three major national polls, while Northwestern is ranked 23rd in the D1Softball.com Top 25 and 24th in ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.
Scoring Summary
Northwestern – 1st INNING – Rudd singles to left, Lewis and Shellmyer score, 2-0
Northwestern – 1st INNING – Cuchran singles up the middle, Zedak and Rudd score, 4-0
Northwestern – 4th INNING – Lewis doubles, Shellmyer scores, 5-0
Northwestern – 4th INNING – Zedak reaches on an error, Nelson and Lewis score, 7-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Allan homers, Heidorn scores, 7-2
Northwestern – 6th INNING – Rudd walks with bases loaded, Shellmyer scores, 8-2
Notable Numbers
- Northwestern outhit Liberty 8-5 for the game. The Lady Flames committed the game’s lone error. The Wildcats left eight runners on base, while Liberty stranded four.
- 2021 All Big Ten first team pitcher Danielle Williams (2-0) earned the win for Northwestern, striking out 12 and walking one while allowing two runs on five hits.
- Liberty starter McKenzie Wagoner (0-1) drew the loss, allowing two runs on no hits, walking three in one total inning pitched. Relievers Megan Johnson (1/3 inning pitched), Emily Kirby (3 1/3 innings), Karlie Keeney (1 1/3 innings) and Naomi Jones (three batters faced) all pitched in relief.
- Northwestern catcher Jordan Rudd went 1-for-2 with three RBI, while leadoff batter Skyler Shellmyer scored three runs, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Angela Zedak batted 2-for-4.
- 2021 All-Big Team first team first baseman Lou Allan hit her first homer as a Lady Flame in the sixth inning, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Rachel Roupe recorded her first career hit, a seventh-inning double, while Raye Green went 1-for-3.
Turning Point
- Northwestern built a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, chasing both starter Wagoner and reliever Megan Johnson. Kirby came on to get an inning-ending double play.
- Liberty trailed 7-0 before rallying with two outs in the top of the sixth. Hudson lined a two-strike pitch through the left side for a single. Allan then blasted a homer over the fence in left field to make it 7-2. It was Allan’s 18th career homer and first as a Lady Flame.
Beyond the Box Score
- Prior to today, Liberty’s only meeting against Northwestern in softball was March 25, 2007, when the seventh-ranked Wildcats topped the Lady Flames 8-0 in Louisville, Ky. Current Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan led Northwestern to the Women’s College World Series that season.
- This was Liberty’s sixth game in program history in which both teams were nationally-ranked. Liberty is now 1-5 in games where both teams are ranked.
- Raye Green made her first career start today, and got her first career hit to lead off the second inning.
- Lou Allan has a history of homers against Williams. On April 24, 2021, Allan went 3-for-4 against Williams with a double, homer and four RBI. She hit a walk-off three-run homer for Michigan that day in a 6-3 Wolverines win.
- Last year, Liberty allowed one total first-inning run in its last 33 games of the season. The Lady Flames have trailed 4-0 after the first inning in two out of their first three games this season.
Up Next
Liberty closes out its time at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights Tournament tomorrow against Missouri at 1 p.m. on the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex Field 4.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Williams (2-0)
L: Wagoner, McKenzie (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Roupe, Rachel 1
HR: Allan, Lou 1
RBI: Allan, Lou 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Heidorn, Lilly 1 ; Allan, Lou 1
Batting:
2B: Lewis 1
RBI: Lewis 1 ; Rudd 3 ; Cuchran 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Shellmyer 3 ; Lewis 2 ; Ma. Nelson 1 ; Rudd 1 ; Zedak 1
SB: Shellmyer 1 ; Stanley 1 ; Lindsey 1
HBP: Rudd 1 ; Cady 1 ; Lindsey 1
