Lady Flames Welcome Arkansas to Lynchburg for Midweek Matchup
3/9/2022 10:30:37 AM | Softball
Liberty (14-6) caps its 11-game homestand by hosting No. 8 (Softball America) Arkansas (14-4), Thursday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium. The Lady Flames (eight games) and Razorbacks (six games) both carry extended winning streaks into Thursday’s matchup.
Thursday, March 10
Liberty Softball Stadium
Lynchburg, Va.
Liberty vs. Arkansas – 4 p.m. Live Video (ESPN+) | Live Stats
Arkansas, Liberty’s sixth nationally-ranked opponent of the season, entered the week ranked fifth in the nation in scoring, averaging 7.78 runs per game. The Razorbacks’ Danielle Gibson leads the nation with a .580 batting average to go along with five homers and 20 RBI.
Liberty is 2-0 all-time against Arkansas. Last year, Liberty’s Emily Kirby outdueled Mary Haff for 10 innings, and Denay Griffin delivered a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the 10th inning in a 2-0 Liberty win that snapped Arkansas’ 19-game winning streak. Kirby and Haff both won conference Pitcher of the Year honors in 2021. Similarly, Thursday’s matchup features the 2021 ASUN Coach of the Year (Dot Richardson) and 2021 SEC Coach of the Year (Courtney Deifel). Both Liberty (ASUN) and Arkansas (SEC) earned conference regular-season titles in 2021 as well.
The Lady Flames went 5-0 at the Liberty Softball Invitational, including two run-rule wins over Rutgers, a 6-3 victory over then No. 23 Notre Dame and a 4-0 shutout of James Madison. Liberty is 14-1 in its last fifteen games, outscoring opponents 105-20 and outhitting them .332-.200. The Lady Flames have posted a 0.98 team ERA and six shutouts during that 15-game span.
Alexis Soto was named ASUN Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .529 with four doubles, one triple and eight RBI during six games last week. She is the first Liberty freshman since Amber Bishop in 2017 to be named conference player of the week.
Karlie Keeney went 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA and one save last week, highlighted by her second no-hitter of the season, Thursday against Rutgers. She was named ASUN Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Keeney is the only pitcher in the nation with two no-hitters against Power Five opponents (Maryland, Rutgers) this season.
Devyn Howard had hits in a program-record 11 straight at bats, a streak which ended last Tuesday, just two at bats shy of the NCAA national record. Lou Allan later went on a streak where she reached base in 10 straight plate appearances.
The Lady Flames have posted a 2.02 ERA and six shutouts so far this season. Karlie Keeney, a 2021 ASUN All-Conference second team pitcher, is 8-2 with a 2.17 ERA and two shutouts (both no-hitters), while Megan Johnson is 2-0 with a 0.94 ERA, ranking 31st nationally in ERA. Sophomores McKenzie Wagoner (2-2, 1.98 ERA) and Naomi Jones (1-0, 2.33) have earned valuable experience, while 2021 ASUN Pitcher of the Year Emily Kirby is 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA and one shutout.
Devyn Howard leads Liberty with a .379 batting average, .465 on base percentage and 17 runs scored. 2021 All-Big Ten first baseman Lou Allan bats .327 with three homers and 13 RBI, while catcher Caroline Hudson (.286) paces the Lady Flames with four homers, 15 RBI and a .571 slugging percentage. Mary Claire Wilson (.273) and Kara Canetto (.269) are tied for the team lead with six stolen bases apiece. Meanwhile, freshmen Alexi Soto (.440, eight RBI) and KC Machado (.412) have provided strong production lately.
Howard leads Liberty with a .400 batting average and .453 on base percentage. Hudson bats .304 with a team-leading .543 slugging percentage, leading the team with two homers and nine RBI. 2021 All-Big Ten first baseman Lou Allan has brought a hot bat from Michigan, hitting .289 with a homer and seven RBI. Denay Griffin has already drawn 12 walks for a .567 on base percentage. Rachel Roupe (.256) and Raigan Barrett (.235) provide offense from a strong group of freshmen which also includes Alexis Soto, who is 5-for-11 (.455) this season.
