Liberty University
0-1
Oklahoma
2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
Lady Flames Battle National Champs, No. 1 Oklahoma Walks Off 1-0 in 8
2/10/2023 1:57:02 AM | Softball
Liberty battled two-time defending national champion Oklahoma all the way, with the top-seeded Sooners winning 1-0 in walk-off fashion in the eighth inning on Thursday at Bill Barber Park.
The Lady Flames (0-1) and Sooners (2-0) are opening their respective seasons at this weekend’s Mark Campbell Collegiate Invitational. Oklahoma shut out both Duke and Liberty today.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 8th INNING – Brito reaches on error, Bahl scores, 1-0
Notable Numbers
- Oklahoma held a slight 5-4 advantage in hits, while the Sooners committed two out of the game’s three errors. The Sooners left nine runners on base, while the Lady Flames stranded eight. The two teams went a combined 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
- Nicole May (1-0) earned the shutout, allowing just four hits while walking two and striking out 10.
- Karlie Keeney (0-1) drew the loss, yielding one unearned run on five hits, walking four and striking out five.
- Five different Sooners had one hit apiece, with Rylie Boone hitting a double and walking twice.
- LSU transfer KK Madrey went 2-for-2 with a walk for the Lady Flames.
Turning Point
- Both teams escaped bases-loaded jams in the third inning, with Oklahoma turning an inning-ending double play. The Sooners loaded the bases with nobody out, but Keeney got out of it with a fielder’s choice and two strikeouts.
- With the International tiebreaker in effect to start the eighth inning, Liberty sacrificed the runner to third. However, May got Caroline Hudson to ground out and Rachel Roupe to pop out. Oklahoma sacrificed the runner to third, and Keeney’s throw got away, allowing runner Jordy Bahl to score for the 1-0 win.
Beyond the Box Score
- Oklahoma leads the all-time series 4-0 against the Lady Flames, with two out of the last three meetings being decided by just one run.
- Mary Claire Wilson robbed a two-run home run to end the first. Meanwhile, Rachel Roupe made a sensational diving catch to send the game to extra innings.
- Prior to tonight, the last time Oklahoma was held to one run or fewer in a game was June 2, 2019, when the Sooners lost 1-0 in eight innings to Alabama at the Women’s College World Series. Oklahoma had scored two or more runs in each of its last 161 games.
- This is the fourth time that the Lady Flames have opened the season against a Top 25 team and the first season-opening game versus the No. 1 team.
- Devyn Howard has had a hit in each of her last six games, including the last five games of the 2022 season and tonight.
- Liberty is winless in 11 meetings all-time against No. 1 opponent.
Up Next
The Lady Flames face two Top 25 opponents tomorrow, taking on No. 15 Duke at 5 p.m. ET before facing No. 16 Washington at 7:30 p.m. ET
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: May, Nicole (1-0)
L: Keeney, Karlie (0-1)
Batting:
SH: Madrey, KK 1 ; Kersten, Sierra 1
Base Running:
HBP: Howard, Devyn 1
Batting:
2B: Boone, Rylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bahl, Jordy 1
