
5-Run 4th Sends Liberty Past Rutgers, 8-4
2/9/2025 2:40:00 PM | Softball
The 20th-ranked (Softball America) Lady Flames went 5-0 at THE Spring Games to start the 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights fall to 1-4 after losses to Liberty yesterday and today.
Â
Liberty 8, Rutgers 4
Scoring Summary
Rutgers – 1st INNING – Matthews reaches on fielder's choice, Stripling scores, 1-0
Liberty – 2nd INNING – Jessee hits sacrifice fly to right, Craine advances, Roberts scores, 1-1
Liberty – 2nd INNING – Madrey singles to right, Doerr advances, Craine scores, 2-1
Rutgers – 4th INNING – Kraska singles, Hoekstra and Fuller advance, Hwang scores, 2-2
Rutgers – 4th INNING – Stripling singles, Kraska advances, Hoekstra and Fuller score, 4-2
Liberty – 4th INNING – Madrey singles, Doerr and Roberts score, 4-4
Liberty – 4th INNING – Whatley singles up the middle, Madrey scores, 5-4
Liberty – 4th INNING – Roupe singles through the right side, Woodard and Whatley score, 7-4
Liberty – 5th INNING – Madrey singles to right, Jessee advances, Doerr scores, 8-4
Â
Turning Point
- Rutgers capitalized on a Liberty error in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Paige Bachman then came on in relief of Danner Allen. Bachman allowed a pair of run-scoring singles, as Hailey Stripling's two-run single made it 4-2, Rutgers.
- The Scarlet Knights allowed the first batter of the bottom of the fourth the reach via error. The Lady Flames cashed in with five runs, as KK Madrey tied it up with a two-run single. Savanah Whatley's RBI single gave Liberty a 5-4 lead before Rachel Roupe added a pair of runs with a single to right.
- Liberty outhit Rutgers 9-5. The Scarlet Knights committed three errors, compared to two for the Lady Flames. Only three out of the 12 total runs scored were earned.
- Paige Bachman improved to 3-0 on the season, allowing no runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Danner Allen, making her first career start, allowed four runs (none earned) on two hits, walking two and striking out three.
- Ella Harrison (0-3) drew the loss, yielding eight runs (three earned) on nine hits, walking three and fanning one in 4 2/3 innings.
- Madrey went 3-for-3 with a career-high four RBI and a season-high-tying three stolen bases. Paige Doerr batted 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Roupe went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
- At 5-0, Liberty is off to its best start to a season since winning each of its first six games in 2021.
- Liberty leads Rutgers 9-1 in the all-time series, with the Lady Flames winning each of the last nine meetings.
- Bachman has 16 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in 13 2/3 innings pitched this season.
- Madrey became the eighth player in program history with 50 career stolen bases as a Lady Flame. She batted a team-best .563 with seven RBI, seven stolen bases and five runs scored this weekend.
- Madrey and Paige Doerr both have hits in all five games so far this season.Â
Liberty will head to Orlando, Fla., to take on UCF on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at UCF Softball Complex.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bachman, Paige (3-0)
L: Harrison, Ella (0-3)
Batting:
RBI: Stripling, Hailey 1 ; Matthews, LA 1 ; Kraska, Stephanie 1
SH: Briggs, Bailey 1 ; Burtis, Baileigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stripling, Hailey 1 ; Hwang, Riley 1 ; Fuller, Jayla 1 ; Hoekstra, Siera 1
CS: Matthews, LA 1
HBP: Riggan, Kelsie 1

Batting:
RBI: Roupe, Rachel 2 ; Jessee, Savannah 1 ; Madrey, KK 4 ; Whatley, Savanah 1
SF: Jessee, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Woodard, Savannah 1 ; Roberts, Brooke 2 ; Craine, Rachel 1 ; Doerr, Paige 2 ; Madrey, KK 1 ; Whatley, Savanah 1
SB: Madrey, KK 3
CS: Doerr, Paige 1


















