
Late Power Surge Aids Lady Flames’ 4-0 Shutout Effort at Sam Houston
3/22/2024 9:43:00 PM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Liberty hit three homers over the final two innings, pulling away for a series-opening 4-0 win over Sam Houston, Friday at Bearkat Softball Complex.
Liberty improves to 16-12 on the season, including 6-1 in Conference USA play with its fifth win in a row. Meanwhile, Sam Houston (11-18) remains in search of its first CUSA win at 0-7 in league play.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 6th INNING – Roupe homers down left field line, 1-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Fortner homers down right field line, Norris scores, 3-0
Liberty – 7th INNING – Madrey homers to right center, 4-0
Turning Point
The Lady Flames and Bearkats will meet again tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time for the middle game of this weekend's series.
Liberty improves to 16-12 on the season, including 6-1 in Conference USA play with its fifth win in a row. Meanwhile, Sam Houston (11-18) remains in search of its first CUSA win at 0-7 in league play.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 6th INNING – Roupe homers down left field line, 1-0
Liberty – 6th INNING – Fortner homers down right field line, Norris scores, 3-0
Liberty – 7th INNING – Madrey homers to right center, 4-0
Turning Point
- Sam Houston had the best scoring chance in the early going, with runners on second and third and one out in the bottom of the fourth. However, Kaylan Yoder struck out the next two batters, keeping the game tied at 0-0.
- Rachel Roupe hit a leadoff homer in the sixth, while Megan Fortner added a two-run blast later in the same inning. KK Madrey added a solo shot in the seventh to cap the scoring.
- Liberty outhit Sam Houston 8-5 for the game, with the visitors slugging three homers and a double. The Bearkats left six runners on base, while the Lady Flames stranded five.
- Yoder (6-5) tossed a five-hitter, her second shutout of the season. She struck out nine, one shy of her career high, while walking one and hitting two.
- Sam Houston's Mika Vento (2-6) drew the loss, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and fanning one in 5 2/3 innings. Relief pitcher Abigail Young also gave up two runs on four hits, in 1 1/3 innings of work.
- Rachel Craine batted 2-for-3 with a double for Liberty, while Megan Fortner (two RBI), Rachel Roupe (one RBI) and KK Madrey (one RBI) all homered. Roupe hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season, while Fortner is second on the team with six homers and Madrey hit her first of the year.
- Liberty evened the all-time series at 1-1 with Sam Houston, as both meetings have taken place at Bearkat Softball Complex. The Bearkats won the first meeting, 3-0, on March 14, 2012 in Huntsville.
- The Lady Flames have scored first in nine straight games, a streak which started on March 8 at FIU.
- After falling to FIU 10-2 on March 10, Liberty has allowed just one run combined in four conference games since then.
- Wilson has reached base safely in each of her last 10 games.
- Yoder has earned the game-one start in all three Conference USA series so far this season. She is 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA in those three starts, allowing just one run in 21 innings pitched.
- Both Roupe and Fortner have scored 95 runs in their respective collegiate careers. Fortner leads all active Lady Flames in career homers (34) and RBI (120), trailed closely by Roupe (32 home runs, 115 RBI).
- Madrey hit her third career homer and first of the season. She is one of 10 Lady Flames who have homered this year.
The Lady Flames and Bearkats will meet again tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time for the middle game of this weekend's series.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Yoder, Kaylan (6-5)
L: Mika Vento (2-6)

Batting:
2B: Craine, Rachel 1
HR: Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Fortner, Megan 1 ; Madrey, KK 1
RBI: Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Fortner, Megan 2 ; Madrey, KK 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roupe, Rachel 1 ; Norris, Aubry 1 ; Fortner, Megan 1 ; Madrey, KK 1
SB: Wilson, Mary Claire 1

Batting:
SH: Tricia Yarotsky 1
Base Running:
SB: Ellie Grill 1
CS: Haley Mountain 1
HBP: Elia Hebel 1 ; Jordan Peno 1
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