Liberty University
29-15
Alabama
32-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Hudson's Blast Sends Liberty Past No. 13 Alabama 5-3
4/18/2023 4:05:54 PM | Softball
Liberty junior Caroline Hudson launched a three-run homer off of All-American pitcher Montana Fouts, propelling Liberty to a 5-3 win over No. 13 Alabama, Tuesday at Marshall’s Dot Hicks Field.
The Lady Flames improve to 29-15 with their first win over a Top 25 team this season. Meanwhile, Alabama (32-13) faces the host Marshall Thundering Herd for today’s second game.
Today’s game was played before a standing room only crowd of 2,768 fans, with a majority of the crowd there to see Fouts, who is from nearby Grayson, Ky.
Scoring Summary
Alabama – 1st INNING – Johnson singles on infield, Dowlnig advances, Shipman scores, 1-0
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Kersten homers to right, 1-1
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Hudson sacrifice bunt, Howard advances, Madrey scores, 2-1
Alabama – 4th INNING – Prange singles to center, Giles scores, Stephens out at plate, 2-2
Alabama – 5th INNING – Dowling homers to left, 3-2
Liberty – 5th INNING – Hudson homers to left center, Howard and Madrey score, 5-3
Notable Numbers
- Alabama outhit Liberty 8-3 for the game. The Crimson Tide left five on base compared to three stranded for the Lady Flames. Liberty turned one double play.
- Karlie Keeney (20-6) earned the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, walking one and striking out three.
- Fouts (17-7) drew the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, walking one and fanning five in 3 2/3 innings. Alex Slater yielded two runs on one hit with two walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
- Caroline Hudson went 1-for-2 with a homer, four RBI and one run scored, while Sierra Kersten batted 1-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and one run. KK Madrey drew two walks, stole a base and scored twice.
- Bailey Dowling batted 3-for-3 with a double, homer, one run scored and one RBI.
Turning Point
- Alabama took a 3-2 lead on a solo home run by Bailey Dowling in the top of the fifth. After that homer, Keeney retired the final seven batters she saw in order.
- Liberty rallied with one out in the bottom of the fifth, with Madrey drawing a walk and Devyn Howard reaching on an error. Hudson then lined a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left center for a 5-3 lead.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty is 1-5 all-time against Alabama in softball. The Crimson Tide had won the previous meeting 8-1 on Feb. 20, 2021.
- The Lady Flames are now 1-8 against Top 25 teams this season. Liberty has posted 18 wins all-time versus nationally-ranked opponents, with 12 of those wins coming under current Head Coach Dot Richardson.
- Liberty junior Savannah Woodard was facing her former team, as she played for Alabama from 2020 through 2022. She turned a run-saving double play to end the third inning.
- Liberty has posted at least one win over an SEC opponent every year since the start of the 2018 season. The Lady Flames have also defeated at least one Top 25 team each of the last six seasons.
- Keeney is Liberty’s all-time leader in wins over Top 25 opponents, with five nationally-ranked wins.
- Keeney is the sixth Lady Flame to win 20 games in a season and first since Julia DiMartino in 2019. With 61 career victories, Keeney is one win away from tying Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer Katie Phillips (1996-99) for second in program history.
- Hudson hit her 31st career home run and has passed Kelby Allen (2012-15) for 10th in program history with 121 career RBI.
Up Next
Liberty will play a three-game series at Central Arkansas, Saturday and Sunday. The Bears are ranked No. 24 in three national polls this week.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (20-6)
L: Fouts (17-7)
Batting:
2B: Dowling 1
HR: Dowling 1
RBI: Prange 1 ; Dowling 1 ; J. Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shipman 1 ; Dowling 1 ; Giles 1
Batting:
HR: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Kersten, Sierra 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 4 ; Kersten, Sierra 1
SH: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Kersten, Sierra 1 ; Madrey, KK 2
SB: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Madrey, KK 1
