Thursday, May 7
Radford, Va.
2:30 PM
Liberty University
23-33
4
vs
2
Coastal Carolina
15-37
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Coastal Carolina
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
4
1
Liberty
0
0
2
0
2
0
X
4
4
1
LU Holds Off Coastal, Advances in BSC Tourney
5/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 3 seed Liberty Lady Flames broke away in the bottom of the fifth frame to defeat No. 6 Coastal Carolina, 4-2, in the first round of the Big South Softball Championship presented by Texas Roadhouse, Thursday afternoon, in Radford, Va.
Liberty, which has now won a season-high four games in a row, will play again this evening against No. 2 seed Winthrop. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.
The game remained hitless until the bottom of the second inning, when Liberty's Amber DePasquale singled with a bunt down the third base line. With Danielle Howard up to bat with two outs, DePasquale moved into scoring position, stealing second. But Howard struck out swinging, and the game remained scoreless going into the top of the third inning.
Four illegal pitches were called against Liberty starter Tiffani Smith in the top of the third inning, setting up the Chanticleers to take a 1-0 lead. Kelsey Riffle reached on what was ruled a single, when she grounded back to the pitcher on an illegal pitch. She then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Pisone, advanced to third on another illegal pitch, then scored on a single to left by Mecaela Ballard.
The Lady Flames stormed back during their next at-bat. Designated player Jenny Law led off with a double to left center. One out later, Cassie Hendrix reached on an error by the Coastal Carolina first baseman, as Law moved to third. After J'nae Jefferson grounded out to shortstop, Kelly Strickland stepped up and drilled a two-RBI double to left center field, allowing the Lady Flames to take a 2-1 lead.
Illegal pitches continued to plague Smith in the top of the third, as she threw three illegal pitches to leadoff batter Stacy Snellings, who ended up drawing a walk. Snellings then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Olivia Williams. After another illegal pitch, Liberty head coach Paul Wetmore made a pitching change, and Sarah Ellis came in to relieve Smith with one out and a runner on third.
After Morgan Dodd struck out swinging, Sarah Maples singled up the middle to score Snellings from third, tying the game, 2-2. But Ellis got Liberty out of the half-inning with no more damage done, striking out Riffel to end the frame.
Jenna Eatmon led off the Liberty half of the fifth inning with a walk, then promptly stole second. On the next play, Hendrix nearly beat out a bunt, as Eatmon moved to third. Jefferson was up next, and grounded out to second, but the play gave Eatmon enough time to cross the plate, and Liberty regained a one-run lead, 3-2.
The Lady Flames offense wasn't finished yet. Strickland was hit by a pitch, and immediately stole second. Then, senior Beth Bennett ripped a single to left field, scoring Strickland from second to put Liberty up, 4-2. After a Coastal Carolina pitching change, Keely McMillon grounded out to first to end the scoring surge, and the inning.
The Chanticleers put a runner on in the top of the sixth, when Snellings drew a walk with one out. But Ellis remained effective, striking out Williams and Dodd to send the game into the bottom of the sixth with Liberty still leading, 4-2.
Coastal Carolina failed to muster an offensive rally in its final at bat, and Liberty walked away with a first-round victory, 4-2.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Bennett was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Coastal Carolina was led by Ballard and Maples, who were each 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Ellis (13-21) picked up the win in the circle, giving up two hits and striking out six batters in 3.2 innings of relief work. Smith struck out five batters over 3.1 innings pitched.
Ivy McCranie (3-9) took the loss for the Chanticleers, scattering four hits and striking out four batters in 4.2 innings.
The Lady Flames (23-33) advance to face No. 2 seed Winthrop tonight at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina (15-37) will next play Friday at 10 a.m., versus the loser of this afternoon's contest between No. 1 seed Radford and No. 5 seed Gardner-Webb.
Liberty, which has now won a season-high four games in a row, will play again this evening against No. 2 seed Winthrop. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.
The game remained hitless until the bottom of the second inning, when Liberty's Amber DePasquale singled with a bunt down the third base line. With Danielle Howard up to bat with two outs, DePasquale moved into scoring position, stealing second. But Howard struck out swinging, and the game remained scoreless going into the top of the third inning.
Four illegal pitches were called against Liberty starter Tiffani Smith in the top of the third inning, setting up the Chanticleers to take a 1-0 lead. Kelsey Riffle reached on what was ruled a single, when she grounded back to the pitcher on an illegal pitch. She then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Pisone, advanced to third on another illegal pitch, then scored on a single to left by Mecaela Ballard.
The Lady Flames stormed back during their next at-bat. Designated player Jenny Law led off with a double to left center. One out later, Cassie Hendrix reached on an error by the Coastal Carolina first baseman, as Law moved to third. After J'nae Jefferson grounded out to shortstop, Kelly Strickland stepped up and drilled a two-RBI double to left center field, allowing the Lady Flames to take a 2-1 lead.
Illegal pitches continued to plague Smith in the top of the third, as she threw three illegal pitches to leadoff batter Stacy Snellings, who ended up drawing a walk. Snellings then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Olivia Williams. After another illegal pitch, Liberty head coach Paul Wetmore made a pitching change, and Sarah Ellis came in to relieve Smith with one out and a runner on third.
After Morgan Dodd struck out swinging, Sarah Maples singled up the middle to score Snellings from third, tying the game, 2-2. But Ellis got Liberty out of the half-inning with no more damage done, striking out Riffel to end the frame.
Jenna Eatmon led off the Liberty half of the fifth inning with a walk, then promptly stole second. On the next play, Hendrix nearly beat out a bunt, as Eatmon moved to third. Jefferson was up next, and grounded out to second, but the play gave Eatmon enough time to cross the plate, and Liberty regained a one-run lead, 3-2.
The Lady Flames offense wasn't finished yet. Strickland was hit by a pitch, and immediately stole second. Then, senior Beth Bennett ripped a single to left field, scoring Strickland from second to put Liberty up, 4-2. After a Coastal Carolina pitching change, Keely McMillon grounded out to first to end the scoring surge, and the inning.
The Chanticleers put a runner on in the top of the sixth, when Snellings drew a walk with one out. But Ellis remained effective, striking out Williams and Dodd to send the game into the bottom of the sixth with Liberty still leading, 4-2.
Coastal Carolina failed to muster an offensive rally in its final at bat, and Liberty walked away with a first-round victory, 4-2.
Strickland led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Bennett was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Coastal Carolina was led by Ballard and Maples, who were each 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Ellis (13-21) picked up the win in the circle, giving up two hits and striking out six batters in 3.2 innings of relief work. Smith struck out five batters over 3.1 innings pitched.
Ivy McCranie (3-9) took the loss for the Chanticleers, scattering four hits and striking out four batters in 4.2 innings.
The Lady Flames (23-33) advance to face No. 2 seed Winthrop tonight at 7:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina (15-37) will next play Friday at 10 a.m., versus the loser of this afternoon's contest between No. 1 seed Radford and No. 5 seed Gardner-Webb.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (13-21)
L: McCRANIE, Ivy (3-9)
Batting:
RBI: BALLARD, Mecaela 1 ; MAPLES, Sarah 1
SH: BIRNBAUM, Brittany 1 ; WILLIAMS, Olivia 1 ; PISONE, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SNELLINGS, Stacy 1 ; RIFFEL, Kelsey 1
SB: BALLARD, Mecaela 1
Batting:
2B: Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Law, Jenny 1
RBI: Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Bennett, Beth 1
SH: Hendrix, Cassie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
SB: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
HBP: Strickland, Kelly 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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