Liberty University
16-12, 2-0
Eastern Kentucky
4-21, 0-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 1 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Liberty Scores Early and Often, Takes Game 2 From EKU 11-4
3/19/2022 8:35:13 PM | Softball
Liberty’s bats picked up right where they left off from game one, scoring seven first-inning runs to spark an 11-4 win over Eastern Kentucky to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader at Gertrude Hood Field.
Liberty improves to 16-12, 2-0 in ASUN play after the doubleheader sweep, while ASUN newcomer EKU falls to 4-21 overall and 0-2 in conference games. Today’s games featured last year’s ASUN (Liberty) and OVC (EKU) champions.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 1st INNING – Hudson homers to left center, Hudson and Howard score, 2-0
Liberty – 1st INNING – Wilson singles to right, Soto and Canetto advance, Allan scores, 3-0
Liberty – 1st INNING – Roupe hits grand slam to center, Roupe, Wilson, Soto, Canetto score, 7-0
EKU – 2nd INNING – Robinson homers to left, Robinson and Miranda score, 7-2
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Hudson singles, Howard and Barrett advance, Roupe scores, 8-2
EKU – 4th INNING – Miranda flies out to left, sacrifice fly, Pertee scores, 8-3
EKU – 5th INNING – Riley walks with bases loaded, Bowers and Miller advance, Miller scores, 8-4
Liberty – 6th INNING – Wilson singles to left, Canetto advances, Heidorn scores, 9-4
Liberty – 6th INNING – Roupe singles to center, Plummer and Canetto score, 11-4
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit EKU 12-8 for the game. The Colonels committed two errors compared to one for the Lady Flames. EKU stranded nine runners, while Liberty left seven on base.
- McKenzie Wagoner (4-3) picked up her second win of the day, pitching her first career seven-inning complete game. She allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits, walking four and fanning five.
- Bethany Todd (1-9) drew the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits, walking five and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings. Lauren Narvaez allowed three runs on five hits in relief.
- Mary Claire Wilson went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Rachel Roupe batted 2-for-3 with a grand slam and a career-high six RBI. Caroline Hudson batted 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, while Kara Canetto went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
- Carly Robinson batted 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI to lead EKU’s batters.
Turning Point
- Liberty burst out to a 7-0 lead after one-half inning. The Colonels chipped away at the deficit, and trailed 8-4 with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth. However, Wagoner snuffed out the rally by getting Ariyana Miranda for the third out.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty is now 8-1 all-time against Eastern Kentucky in softball.
- This is the first time in program history that Liberty has scored double-digits in both games of a conference doubleheader. Liberty’s 21 runs today are the most runs the team has scored in a conference twin bill since beating Charleston Southern 15-6 and 7-3 on April 22, 2005.
- Liberty is now 15-0 when scoring first and 11-0 when scoring in the first inning this season.
- Liberty’s seven first-inning runs were the most for the Lady Flames since scoring 11 times in the first inning of a 19-3 win over Longwood, March 6, 2021.
- Roupe is the second Liberty player to hit a grand slam this season, joining classmate Rachel Craine (March 10 against Arkansas).
- Roupe’s six RBI tie a program single-game record for RBI by a freshman, joining Holly Seiz (April 7, 2013 at Charleston Southern) and Amber Bishop (March 17, 2017 at CSU).
- Roupe is the first Liberty true freshman with homers in back-to-back games since Amber Bishop homered in back-to-back games against Winthrop and Longwood at the 2017 Big South Softball Championship.
Up Next
The Lady Flames and Colonels finish their three-game series with a single game, tomorrow at Noon at Gertrude Hood Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wagoner, McKenzie (4-3)
L: Todd, B. (1-9)
Batting:
HR: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 3 ; Wilson, Mary Claire 2 ; Roupe, Rachel 6
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Allan, Lou 1 ; Heidorn, Lilly 1 ; Canetto, Kara 2 ; Soto, Alexis 1 ; Wilson, Mary Claire 1 ; Plummer, Janessa 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 2
CS: Wilson, Mary Claire 1
Batting:
2B: Riley, J. 1
HR: Robinson, C. 1
RBI: Riley, J. 1 ; Miranda, A. 1 ; Robinson, C. 2
SF: Miranda, A. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, S. 1 ; Pertee, M. 1 ; Miranda, A. 1 ; Robinson, C. 1
