Liberty University
0-5
UCF
4-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| UCF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 6 | 3 |
No. 24 UCF Shuts Out Liberty 3-0
2/15/2022 9:10:30 PM | Softball
Liberty and No. 24 UCF battled through a low-scoring contest, with the host Knights blanking the Lady Flames 3-0 on Tuesday at UCF Softball Complex.
The Knights, playing their fifth straight home game, improve to 4-1 on the season. Meanwhile, the Lady Flames fall to 0-5 on their season-opening 10-game trip to Florida.
UCF entered the Top 25 this week, and is currently ranked No. 24 in three major polls and 25th in the Softball America Top 25. The Lady Flames are receiving six votes in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Scoring Summary
UCF – 1st INNING – Bejarano hit by pitch with bases loaded, Schappacher scores, 1-0
UCF – 4th INNING – Cody doubles to left center, Macario and Molina score, 3-0
Notable Numbers
- For the game, UCF outhit Liberty 6-3. The Knights committed three errors compared to one miscue for the Lady Flames. UCF left 10 runners on base, while Liberty stranded seven.
- UCF’s Kama Woodall (2-0) earned the win, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Gianna Mancha picked up a two-out save.
- Emily Kirby now holds an 0-2 record on the season after allowing one run on one hit, walking three and hitting two batters in 1 2/3 innings of work. Megan Johnson pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, yielding two unearned runs on five hits, fanning three and walking one.
- Maddie Bejarano went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI for the Knights, while Denali Schappacher batted 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jada Cody batted 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
- Liberty’s Lou Allan, Rachel Roupe and KC Machado had one hit apiece. Allan has hit safely in four straight games, while Machado recorded her first career hit with a seventh-inning pinch-hit single.
Turning Point
- Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Liberty loaded the bases on an error and a pair of singles. Woodall escaped damage, getting Rachel Craine to ground to third to end the inning.
- An error in the bottom of the fourth left the door open for two Knights runs. With two on and nobody out after an error, Johnson struck out the next two batters. Cody then made it 3-0 UCF with a double to left center.
- The Lady Flames brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, as Machado singled with one out and pinch hitter Paige Bachman drew a two-out walk. Canetto grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty and UCF are both coming off of 40+-win seasons which saw them advance to the 2021 NCAA Regional finals. The Lady Flames fell to James Madison in the final of the Knoxville Regional, while the Knights fell to Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional final.
- UCF now holds a 6-0 all-time record against the Lady Flames. The Knights won the most recent meeting 7-2 on Feb. 11, 2016 at UCF Softball Complex. UCF was ranked No. 17 during that matchup.
- UCF is the fourth straight nationally-ranked opponent that Liberty has faced, following matchups against No. 19 Kentucky, No. 23 Northwestern and No. 9 Missouri this past weekend at the Northern Lights/Southern Nights Tournament.
- Machado is the fifth Lady Flame to record her first career collegiate hit this season, joining Raye Green, Rachel Craine, Raigan Barrett and Rachel Roupe.
- Bachman is the third active Lady Flame to reach base in her first career plate appearance, drawing a walk tonight. Teammates Caroline Hudson (vs. Kentucky, 2020) and Mary Claire Wilson (vs. Pitt, 2021) both recorded hits in their first career time at the plate for Liberty.
Up Next
Liberty returns to the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla. for five games at THE Spring Games, starting Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Maryland.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Woodall (2-0)
L: Kirby, Emily (0-2)
S: G. Mancha (1)
Base Running:
HBP: Allan, Lou 1
Batting:
2B: J. Cody 1 ; M. Bejarano 1
RBI: J. Cody 2 ; M. Bejarano 1
SH: K. Searcy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schappacher 1 ; J. Molina 1 ; M. Macario 1
SB: S. Doherty 1
HBP: K. Searcy 1 ; M. Bejarano 1 ; A. Volpe 1
