Lady Flames Head to FIU for CUSA-Opening Series
3/6/2024 9:54:00 AM | Softball
After going 2-3 at Oklahoma's tournament, including a 7-1 win over Louisiana on Sunday, Liberty (9-10) opens its inaugural Conference USA schedule this weekend at FIU (11-12).
Friday's game and Sunday's game will air live on ESPN+. All three games will have live stats available.
Felsberg Field at Liberty Softball Stadium
Miami, Fla.
Friday, March 8 - Liberty at FIU - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 - Liberty at FIU - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 10 - Liberty at FIU - 11 a.m.
Friday's game and Sunday's game will air live on ESPN+. All three games will have live stats available.
Felsberg Field at Liberty Softball Stadium
Miami, Fla.
Friday, March 8 - Liberty at FIU - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 - Liberty at FIU - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 10 - Liberty at FIU - 11 a.m.
- The Lady Flames were chosen as the favorite in the 2024 Conference USA Preseason Poll in their first year in the conference. Additionally, junior outfielder Rachel Roupe was voted CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, while junior Paige Bachman was voted CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Meanwhile, FIU was voted fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.
- This weekend's series features this week's CUSA Freshman of the Week (FIU's Kally Meredith) and last week's Freshman of the Week (Liberty's Kaylan Yoder).
- The Lady Flames topped Tulsa 10-6 last Friday in Norman, Okla., before dropping a pair of games to No. 1 Oklahoma at its brand-new stadium, Love's Field. After falling 1-0 to Louisiana on Saturday, the Lady Flames hit a season-high six doubles in a 7-1 win over the Ragin' Cajuns the following day.
- On Saturday against Oklahoma All-American pitcher Kelly Maxwell, Megan Fortner and JaMaya Byrum hit back-to-back home runs. It was the first time since April 29, 2023 versus Austin Peay (Rachel Craine/Megan Fortner) that the Lady Flames connected for back-to-back homers.
- Liberty hit six home runs during its five games in Norman on the weekend, giving the Lady Flames 19 homers, as Liberty leads CUSA with 0.89 homers per game. Liberty's Rachel Roupe (6) and Megan Fortner (4) are ranked second and fourth, respectively, in the CUSA in homers this season.
- Liberty freshmen Katie Love (five inning win) and Kaylan Yoder (two inning save) combined to hold Louisiana to just one run in a 7-1 win on Sunday, right before the Ragin' Cajuns ended Oklahoma's 71-game winning streak later that afternoon.
- For the season, Rachel Roupe leads CUSA in slugging percentage (.911) while also pacing the Lady Flames in doubles (7), homers (6), RBI (15), runs (13 - tied) and on base percentage (.484). Hailey Deter bats .276, followed by Fortner (.269, four homers, 11 RBI). Mary Claire Wilson is tied with Roupe for the team lead with 13 runs scored, while Sierra Kersten (.255) ranks second on the team with 14 RBI.
- Liberty is 4-0 in games Elena Escobar (2.53 ERA) has started this season. Escobar struck out a career-high 10 batters in a two-hit shutout of Saint Francis, Feb. 23. Kaylan Yoder (2-4, 3.25) ranks second in CUSA with 7.6 strikeouts per seven innings, including a career-high 10 K's in four innings against Morgan State on Feb. 25. Katie Love (1-3, 8.13) held Louisiana to one run on four hits on Sunday, earning her first career victory. Louisiana transfer Tyler Oubre holds a 4.63 ERA, while Paige Bachman tossed a scoreless inning of relief against Oklahoma on Saturday.
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