Liberty University
19-13, 5-2
Kennesaw State
12-21, 4-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennesaw State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| Liberty | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 5 | 11 | 0 |
Hudson’s Blast Fuels 5-4 Liberty Comeback Win Over KSU
3/31/2023 3:06:13 PM | Softball
Liberty catcher Caroline Hudson hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, fueling a 5-4 comeback victory over Kennesaw State, Friday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames (19-13) improve to 5-2 in ASUN play, while the Owls (12-21) fall to 4-3 in conference games. These two teams entered today in a five-way tie for third place in the ASUN standings.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 1st INNING – Roupe homers to left center, 1-0
Liberty – 2nd INNING – Madrey bunts for single, Woodard scores, 2-0
KSU – 4th INNING – Cooper homers down left field line, 2-1
KSU – 5th INNING – Cates singles through left side, advances, Hardeman advances, Anderson scores, 2-2
KSU – 5th INNING – Bailey singles to left center, Cates and Hardeman score, 4-2
Liberty – 6th INNING – Hudson homers to left, Howard and Madrey score, 5-4
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Kennesaw State 11-10 for the game, while the Owls committing two errors. The Lady Flames left 10 runners on base compared to six stranded for KSU.
- Karlie Keeney (13-6) earned the victory, allowing four runs on 10 hits, striking out seven and walking one.
- Melanie Bennett (6-5) drew the loss, yielding three runs on six hits, walking three in 3 2/3 innings of relief. KSU starter Kenley Hilleary gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, walking one and fanning one in 2 1/3 innings.
- Hudson went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and one run scored, while Rachel Craine batted 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Megan Fortner hit 2-for-4, while KK Madrey went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
- For KSU, Ty Hardeman went 2-for-3 with one run scored. Kiera Cooper homered, while Madison Miller batted 2-for-3 and Brinaya Bailey hit 1-for-4 with two RBI. Taylor Cates went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Turning Point
- Kennesaw State scored three runs in the fifth inning, taking a 4-2 lead on Bailey’s two-out, two run single.
- The Lady Flames responded in the home half of the sixth, with Hudson connecting on the first pitch she saw, lining it over the fence in left for a 5-4 Liberty advantage.
- The Owls put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the seventh. However, Keeney got out of the jam, getting Cates to pop out before striking out Bailey to end the game.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty leads the all-time series against Kennesaw State in softball, 16-6. The Lady Flames have won each of the last 10 meetings.
- Roupe has hit 10 out of her 12 career home runs inside Liberty Softball Stadium and now ranks fourth all-time for home runs in stadium history. Hudson is second all-time in Liberty Softball Stadium history with 19 homers all-time in the stadium.
- Hudson passed Sammi Shivock (2011-14) into 12th place in program history with 110 career RBI.
- Keeney has now won 30 games at Liberty Softball Stadium in her career.
- Liberty is 10-1 this season when scoring in the first inning and 14-2 when scoring first. The Lady Flames are now 2-7 this year when trailing after five innings and 10-0 when leading after six innings.
Up Next
The Lady Flames and Owls contest the middle game of this weekend’s series tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Liberty Softball Stadium. It will be Dot Richardson Bobblehead Giveaway, with the first 500 fans receiving a bobblehead of Head Coach Dot Richardson.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (13-6)
L: BENNETT, Mel (6-5)
Batting:
HR: COOPER 1
RBI: CATES 1 ; BAILEY 2 ; COOPER 1
SH: HENRY 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CATES 1 ; COOPER 1 ; ANDERSON 1 ; HARDEMAN 1
CS: ANDERSON 1
Batting:
2B: Craine, Rachel 1
HR: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 3 ; Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Madrey, KK 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Woodard, Savannah 1 ; Madrey, KK 1
SB: Madrey, KK 1
