Softball
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
- Email:
- ekirby@liberty.edu
- Start Date:
- 08/01/2022
Two-time ASUN Pitcher of the Year Emily Kirby joined Head Coach Dot Richardson’s staff following the 2022 season as a volunteer assistant coach before being elevated to full-time assistant coach on July 1, 2023.
Kirby assists with pitching instruction while also aiding with all aspects of running a successful NCAA Division I softball program.
In 2024, the Lady Flames (38-25) won both the Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles, becoming the first team since 2015 (WKU) to win the CUSA championship in its first year in the league. Liberty earned a program-record six victories over Top 25 opponents, including wins over No. 10 LSU and No. 11 Georgia. The Lady Flames made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, qualifying for the Regional final for the second year in a row and fourth time in the last six full seasons. The squad finished the season ranked in both the D1Softball.com and Softball America Top 25.
The 2024 season saw the emergence of a new pitching staff for the Lady Flames. Newcomers Elena Escobar (transfer from North Alabama), Kaylan Yoder (freshman) and Katie Love (freshman) all earned end-of-season honors. Escobar finished the season tied for the CUSA lead with 16 wins, while also being named to the NFCA All-Region first team. Yoder was a first team all-conference and second team all-region selection, while Love was voted to the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
During the 2023 season, Kirby and Kasey Fagan guided Liberty’s pitching staff to a 2.38 ERA, including 12 shutouts. They guided ASUN All-Conference second team and VaSID All-State Pitcher of the Year to a 27-12 record and 2.03 record, as she posted the second-most wins in a single season in program history. Keeney pitched all 14 innings on elimination day at the Los Angeles Regional, as Liberty knocked out No. 2 UCLA and Grand Canyon. Paige Bachman thrived in her first year as a starting pitcher, posting a 2.35 ERA and .222 opponents batting average.
Kirby joined the Lady Flames’ coaching staff after playing the last five seasons (2018-22) for the Lady Flames. A two-time ASUN Pitcher of the Year, Kirby burst onto the scene as a junior in 2021 when she went 15-5 with a 1.92 ERA, 145 strikeouts and nine shutouts. That season, she outdueled SEC Pitcher of the Year Mary Haff of Arkansas in a 10-inning shutout victory over the Razorbacks. She was also named to the 2021 NFCA All-Southeast Region third team.
During the 2022 season, Kirby had an equally impressive ledger, posting a 14-7 record, 2.27 ERA, six shutouts and 134 strikeouts. She silenced the high-powered Georgia offense with a three-hit, 13-strikeout shutout over No. 19 Georgia in the opening game of the 2022 NCAA Durham Regional. She finished her career with a 35-17 overall record, 2.73 ERA and a .215 opponents batting average while ranking fourth in program history with 16 career shutouts.
Kirby signed a professional contract with the Florida Vibe in 2022, and threw a no-hitter in her first career professional softball game. She spent the summer of 2023 playing for the Vibe as well.
A native of Greenville, N.C., Kirby completed her bachelor’s degree in physical education in December of 2021 before earning a master’s degree in sports management: coaching and administration.
