Liberty University
18-13
Virginia Tech
26-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Virginia Tech | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | X | 9 | 15 | 1 |
No. 12 Virginia Tech Holds On For 9-5 Win Over Liberty
3/28/2023 9:41:19 PM | Softball
The No. 12 Virginia Tech Hokies pulled away with a four-run sixth inning and held off a Liberty rally, defeating the Lady Flames 9-5, Tuesday at Tech Softball Park.
The Hokies (26-6) pushed their winning streak to four games, while the Lady Flames fell to 18-13 on the season.
Scoring Summary
Virginia Tech – 3rd INNING – Bailey doubles to left center, Chavez advances, Fagan and Ritter score, 2-0
Virginia Tech – 3rd INNING – Bennett singles to right, Bailey advances, Chavez scores, 3-0
Liberty – 4th INNING – Fortner homers to left, Craine and Howard score, 3-3
Virginia Tech – 5th INNING – Greene doubles to right center, Jackson scores, 4-3
Virginia Tech – 5th INNING – Peck singles to right, Bennett advances, Greene scores, 5-3
Liberty – 6th INNING – Fortner singles through left side, Craine advances, Tuck scores, 5-4
Virginia Tech – 6th INNING – Fagan homers to left, Ritter scores, 7-4
Virginia Tech – 6th INNING – Greene homers to center, Jackson scores, 9-4
Liberty – 7th INNING – Howard doubles to center, Woodard scores, 9-5
Notable Numbers
- Virginia Tech outhit Liberty 15-6 for the game, with both teams committing an error. The Hokies left nine runners on base, while the Lady Flames stranded five.
- Liberty threw two baserunners out at home, with KK Madrey erasing a run in the first and Rachel Roupe turning an inning-ending 9-2 double play in the third. Liberty has now turned an ASUN-leading 14 double plays this season.
- Emma Lemley (16-2), the national leader in strikeouts, allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits, walking three and striking out eight.
- Paige Bachman (5-6) drew the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Karlie Keeney yielded four runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings, walking three and fanning one.
- Six different Hokies recorded two hits each, with Cameron Fagan and Addy Greene both hitting a double and a home run. Jayme Bailey (2-for-4) doubled and drove in two runs.
- Megan Fortner batted 2-for-3 with a homer, four RBI and one run scored, while Devyn Howard batted 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.
Turning Point
- Liberty trailed 5-3 entering the sixth inning and narrowed the gap to 5-4 on an RBI single from Fortner. With two outs and two on, Rachel Roupe drove one to left that was on its way out for a three-run homer before left fielder Emma Ritter robbed it.
- Virginia Tech kept the momentum going in the home half of the sixth, getting two-run homers from Fagan and Greene.
- Howard drew the Lady Flames to within four at 9-5 with an RBI double in the top of the seventh. Alexis Soto lined a shot that was ticketed for an RBI extra-base hit, but it ended the game as Bailey snagged it at first base.
Beyond the Box Score
- Virginia Tech leads the all-time series against Liberty in softball, 39-16, as the Hokies have won the last three meetings.
- Current Liberty associate head coach Kasey Fagan and assistant coach Sami Fagan were coaching against their sister, Virginia Tech junior Cameron Fagan.
- Fortner tied her career high with four RBI, as it was her fifth career four-RBI game and first as a Lady Flame.
- Virginia Tech entered the game leading the nation in home runs per game at 1.97.
- Liberty is now winless in eight games against Top 25 opponents this season.
Up Next
The Lady Flames return home for a three-day ASUN series against Kennesaw State, taking on the Owls at 3 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday before finishing up with a noon start on Sunday.
Featured in photo: Devyn Howard
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: E. Lemley (16-2)
L: Bachman, Paige (5-6)
Batting:
2B: Howard, Devyn 1
HR: Fortner, Megan 1
RBI: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Fortner, Megan 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Tuck, Maddy 1 ; Craine, Rachel 1 ; Fortner, Megan 1 ; Woodard, Savannah 1
Batting:
2B: E. Ritter 1 ; C. Fagan 1 ; G. Chavez 1 ; J. Bailey 1 ; A. Greene 1
HR: C. Fagan 1 ; A. Greene 1
RBI: C. Fagan 2 ; J. Bailey 2 ; A. Greene 3 ; K. Bennett 1 ; B. Peck 1
Base Running:
RUNS: E. Ritter 2 ; C. Fagan 2 ; G. Chavez 1 ; E. Jackson 2 ; A. Greene 2
SB: E. Ritter 1
HBP: E. Ritter 1
