
Liberty Blanks No. 24 Virginia 1-0
4/9/2024 9:54:00 PM | Softball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Liberty freshman Katie Love tossed a six-hit shutout as Liberty blanked No. 24 Virginia, 1-0, Tuesday at Palmer Park.
The Lady Flames (23-16) have won three straight games, while the Cavaliers fall to 26-12. These two teams split the season series this year, with each team winning at the opponent's stadium.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 5th INNING – Kersten grounds out, Heidorn advances, Madrey scores, 1-0
Turning Point
The Lady Flames head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a three-game series at Middle Tennessee, Friday through Sunday.
The Lady Flames (23-16) have won three straight games, while the Cavaliers fall to 26-12. These two teams split the season series this year, with each team winning at the opponent's stadium.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 5th INNING – Kersten grounds out, Heidorn advances, Madrey scores, 1-0
Turning Point
- Liberty manufactured the game's only run in the fifth inning. KK Madrey hit a leadoff single before stealing second. Rachel Craine then walked. A groundout sent the runners ahead to second and third before Sierra Kersten's RBI groundout scored Madrey from third.
- The Cavaliers put two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the fifth, on a single and an error. Love retired the next two batters before pitching a 1-2-3 sixth. She worked around a two-out single in the seventh to complete the shutout.
- Virginia outhit Liberty 6-2 for the game. The Cavaliers committed two errors, compared to one defensive miscue for the Lady Flames. The hosts left seven on base, while the guests stranded three.
- Love (6-3) tossed her third shutout of the season, allowing just six hits while striking out three.
- Mikayla Hogue (1-2) drew the loss, allowing one run on two hits, walking one and fanning four.
- Mary Claire Wilson and KK Madrey both went 1-for-3 for the Lady Flames. Sierra Kersten tied Rachel Roupe for the team lead with her 24th RBI of the season.
- Kelly Ayer batted 2-for-3 for Virginia, the only batter with a two-hit game tonight.
- Virginia leads Liberty 49-27 all-time in softball. The Lady Flames hold a 3-1 record at Virginia's Palmer Park, visiting every season since 2021.
- Liberty is 3-6 against Top 25 teams this season, with victories over No. 25 Penn State, No. 21 Charlotte and No. 24 Virginia. The Cavaliers were ranked No. 24 in this week's Softball America Top 25 while receiving votes in both the NFCA and ESPN.com national polls.
- Liberty earned its first shutout over Virginia since April 2, 2019, a 2-0 home three-hitter pitched by Chase Cassady. The last Liberty freshman to shut out Virginia was Julia DiMartino, who two-hit the Cavaliers on April 20, 2016 in Charlottesville.
- The Lady Flames are now 6-3 in one-run games this season and 19-0 when leading after six innings.
The Lady Flames head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a three-game series at Middle Tennessee, Friday through Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Love, Katie (6-3)
L: Mikayla Houge (1-2)

Batting:
RBI: Kersten, Sierra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Madrey, KK 1
SB: Madrey, KK 1

Base Running:
SB: Leah Boggs 1
Game Leaders
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