Liberty University
31-17
Clemson
44-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Liberty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Liberty Rallies in 7th to Shock No. 6 Clemson, 5-4
4/26/2023 9:04:51 PM | Softball
Dot Richardson Press Conference
Liberty faced a 4-1 deficit against two-time All-American Valerie Cagle with one out in the seventh. The next six Lady Flames reached base in a row during a four-run rally, capped by Rachel Craine’s two-run walk-off single to give the hosts a 5-4 win over No. 6 Clemson, Wednesday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
The Lady Flames improve to 31-17 with their third win over a Top 25 team this season. All three nationally-ranked wins have come within the last nine days, beginning with a 5-3 victory over No. 13 Alabama last Tuesday and including a 4-3 win at No. 24 Central Arkansas, Sunday. Clemson falls to 44-6 on the season. Prior to today, the Tigers’ lone nonconference loss was Feb. 25 against Tennessee.
Turning Point
- Clemson built a 4-1 lead after a two-out, two-run single by Alia Logoleo in the top of the sixth.
- The Lady Flames rallied off of Cagle with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter KC Machado singled to left, followed by singles from Mary Claire Wilson and Devyn Howard which loaded the bases. Bases-loaded walks to Caroline Hudson and Rachel Roupe narrowed the gap to 4-3. Craine then lined a single up the middle, scoring Howard from third and pinch runner Lilly Heidorn from second for the walk-off winner.
Scoring Summary
Clemson – 1st INNING – Moore doubles to right center, Jacobsen and Cagle score, 2-0
Liberty – 1st INNING – Fortner grounds out to second, Craine and Roupe advance, Hudson scores, 2-1
Clemson – 6th INNING – Logoleo singles up the middle, Jacobsen advances, Howell and Miklesh score, 4-1
Liberty – 7th INNING – Hudson walks, Howard and Wilson advance, Woodard scores, 4-2
Liberty – 7th INNING – Roupe walks, Heidorn and Howard advance, Wilson scores, 4-3
Liberty – 7th INNING – Craine singles up the middle, Roupe advances, Heidorn and Howard scores, 5-4
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Clemson 8-7 for the game. The Lady Flames left five runners on base while the Tigers stranded three.
- Karlie Keeney (22-8) earned the win, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out seven. This was Keeney’s third win over a USA Softball National Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist within the last week and a half (Alabama’s Montana Fouts, Central Arkansas’ Kayla Beaver, Clemson’s Valerie Cagle).
- Cagle allowed five runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings pitched. That was her highest amount of hits and earned runs allowed this season.
- Rachel Roupe went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI, while Mary Claire Wilson batted 2-for-3 with one run scored. Rachel Craine hit 1-for-3 with two RBI.
- Cagle batted 2-for-2 with one run scored for Clemson, while Maddie Moore (1-for-3, one double) and Alia Logoleo (1-for-3) both drove in two runs.
Beyond the Box Score
- Clemson is 2-1 all-time against Liberty in softball, with the home team winning all three meetings.
- The Lady Flames are now 3-10 against Top 25 teams this season. Liberty has posted 20 wins all-time versus nationally-ranked opponents, with 14 of those wins coming under current Head Coach Dot Richardson. Liberty’s three Top 25 wins this season tie a program record (also 2007, 2021, 2022).
- No. 6 Clemson is tied for the highest-ranked opponent Liberty has beaten in softball (also No. 6 Michigan in 2007 and 2020).
- Keeney is Liberty’s all-time leader in wins over Top 25 opponents, with seven nationally-ranked wins.
- Keeney’s 22 wins are tied for the second most in a single season in program history, trailing only Julia DiMartino’s 29 wins in 2018.
- With the win, Keeney passed Liberty Athletics Hall of Famer Katie Phillips (1996-99) into second place in program history with 63 career wins.
- Liberty’s last walk-off win over a Top 25 team was April 28, 2021, when the Lady Flames also overcame a three-run seventh-inning deficit against an All-American pitcher (Virginia Tech’s Keely Rochard), as Hudson hit the game-tying and game-winning homers in the nine-inning thriller.
- Liberty is now 4-6 all-time at Liberty Softball Stadium against Top 25 opponents.
- Hudson pushed her hitting streak to eight games.
Up Next
The Lady Flames continue their five-game homestand this weekend, hosting Austin Peay on Friday and Saturday at Liberty Softball Stadium.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (22-8)
L: Cagle,Valerie (22-4)
Batting:
2B: Moore,Maddie 1
RBI: Moore,Maddie 2 ; Logoleo,Alia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miklesh,Ally 1 ; Cagle,Valerie 1 ; Howell,Sarah 1 ; Jacobsen,Caroline 1
CS: Cagle,Valerie 1
Batting:
2B: Roupe, Rachel 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Craine, Rachel 2 ; Fortner, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Devyn 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Heidorn, Lilly 1 ; Woodard, Savannah 1 ; Wilson, Mary Claire 1
HBP: Craine, Rachel 1
