Liberty University
6-0
Troy
4-1
Canetto's 2-RBI Single Pushes Liberty Past Troy
2/17/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kara Canetto lined a two-out single to left field in the top of the seventh inning, driving in the game-winning runs in a 3-1 victory for Liberty over Troy, Wednesday.
With the victory at the Troy Softball Complex, the Lady Flames push their win streak to six games in a row and remain undefeated on the season at 6-0. The loss was the first on the season for the Trojans, dropping Troy to 4-1 early in the 2021 campaign.
Scoring Summary
Liberty – 5th INNING – HUDSON singled, VIA scored, 1-0
Troy – 5th INNING – WEBB singled, CALHOUN scored, 1-1
Liberty – 7th INNING – CANETTO singled, HODUM and Jones scored, 3-1
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit Troy, 7-4, for the game and the two teams combined to leave 18 runners on base (nine for each team).
- The two starting pitchers kept the opposing team's bats in check during the first four innings of play, allowing a combined two hits.
- During the first four innings, the two pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts, while allowing eight base runners (two hits and six walks).
- Karlie Keeney picked up her team-leading third victory of the season for Liberty in relief of starter Emily Kirby.
- Keeney moves to 3-0 in 2021 by allowing one hit in 2 1/3 innings of work, striking out two batters and walking one.
- Kirby recorded a career-best eight strikeouts in the no decision, allowing one run on three hits during 4 2/3 innings of work.
- Leanna Johnson dropped to 2-1 on the season for Troy, allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits during the complete-game effort.
- Kara Canetto led the Lady Flames' seven-hit effort, batting 2-for-4, including the game-winning single in the seventh inning.
- Troy's limited offense was led by Ashlan Ard, as the third baseman finished the game with two of the team's four hits (2-for-3).
Turning Point
- Both teams had scoring chances during the sixth inning, but key defensive stops kept the game tied at 1-1 heading into the final inning.
- After opening the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back hits, Liberty's scoring threat was stopped when Savannah Channell lined into an inning-ending double play.
- The game's first error in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Troy extra at bats, but Keeney got lead off hitter Jade Sinness to ground out to third with two runners on to end the frame.
- With two outs and the bases loaded, Canetto lined a 0-1 pitch into left field for a two-RBI single, scoring pinch runners Megan Hodum and Naomi Jones to secure the victory.
Beyond the Box Score
- Today's meeting between Liberty and Troy was the second all-time between the two programs and allowed the Lady Flames to knot the series at 1-game apiece.
- The two teams first met in 2009 when Troy handed the Lady Flames a 3-0 loss on March 7 at the FSU Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla.
- Liberty, who finished the game with two doubles, has posted two or more doubles in its last three-straight games to lead all ASUN Conference teams with nine on the season.
- Liberty has matched its best start to a season since 2018 when the Lady Flames also won their first six games of the season.
- Liberty's pitchers finished the game with a combined 10 strikeouts, giving the Lady Flames their third game in a row with six or more strikeouts.
- Troy starting pitcher Leanna Johnson fanned 12 Lady Flames on the day after Liberty had struck out a combined 17 times during its first five games of 2021.
- Following the game, Liberty is now 5-for-8 on the season with the bases loaded, while its opponents are 0-of-6 with three runners on base.
- Liberty has won each of its last 14 games against unranked opponents, dating to last year.
Up Next
The Lady Flames will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this weekend to participate in the Bama Bash. Liberty will face its toughest test of the 2021 season at this tournament, as they square off against the likes of No. 5 Alabama and No. 7 LSU. The Lady Flames open up the three-day tournament on Friday when they take on tournament host Alabama at 5 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Keeney, Karlie (3-0)
L: Johnson, L (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Via, Madison 1
RBI: Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Canetto, Kara 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Naomi 1 ; Hodum, Megan 1 ; Via, Madison 1
Batting:
RBI: Webb, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Calhoun, L 1
SB: Figueroa, C 1
