Lady Flames Edge Zips, 3-1

Bridgett Woods, Cassie Hendrix and Kelly Strickland each recorded hits, as the Lady Flames defeated Akron, 3-1, Saturday afternoon, at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga. With the win, Liberty improves to 3-0 in the tournament.

The Lady Flames took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning, taking advantage of two passed balls by Akron catcher Sarah Stromack. Strickland led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, and was safe at second when Ashley Bensinger reached on a bunt single. After both runners advanced on the first passed ball, designated player Woods singled to left to drive in the first run of the game, giving Liberty a 1-0 lead.

The inning continued when Bensinger scored on Stromack's second passed ball after Amber DePasquale drew a walk, and Woods crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left by Danielle Howard, pushing Liberty to a 3-0 advantage.

After a quiet third inning, the Zips put pressure on in the fourth when Alissa Birkhimer led off with a double down the left field line, and pinch runner Alex Helfrich advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Monica Shorter. Liberty starting pitcher Katie Warrington ran into trouble after striking out Heather Bauer, who was safe at first on a passed-ball strike three. Katie Gross then drew a walk to load the bases, and pinch hitter Allison Dorr was hit by a pitch to force in a run for Akron, bringing the score to 3-1 in Liberty's favor.

Akron put runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the sixth, but center fielder DePasquale caught a short liner and immediately tossed the ball to second for the double play, and the Lady Flames maintained the lead.

Strickland ripped a double to left center in the bottom of the sixth, but no further offense was generated by Liberty, and the game entered the top of the seventh with the Lady Flames holding onto the two-run lead.

The Zips' offense made it interesting in the final inning, putting a runner in scoring position and bringing the tying run to the plate. After Stromack reached on a Liberty error, pinch runner Mary Hyland immediately stole second. But relief pitcher Tiffani Smith recorded two consecutive strikeouts, and Birkhimer flied out to center field to end the game with a 3-1 Liberty win.

Woods led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, while Howard also drove in a run. Strickland was also 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Birkhimer led the Zips, batting 2-for-4 in the contest.

Liberty starter Warrington (3-1) picked up the win in the circle, giving up three hits and striking out three batters in 3.1 innings of work. Reliever Smith recorded her first save of the season, giving up one hit and striking out three in 3.2 innings.

Andrea Arney (3-2) took the loss in the circle, giving up three hits and striking out three in six complete innings.

Liberty improves to 6-2 on the year, while Akron drops to 4-4.

The Lady Flames are back in action in the Buzz Classic this afternoon, when they face Rhode Island at 4 p.m.

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Team Stats

Kelly Strickland

Bridgett Woods

Cassie Hendrix

Danielle Howard