Friday, March 5
Woodstock, Ga.
4:00 PM
Liberty University
5-2
8
vs
5
Kennesaw State
8-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
| Kennesaw State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Four Homers Propel Lady Flames Over Owls
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Danielle Howard and Kelly Strickland each recorded two home runs, as Liberty defeated Kennesaw State, 8-5, Friday afternoon, at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic in Woodstock, Ga. The Lady Flames outhit the Owls, 11-4, in the contest.
The Owls put a runner on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Liberty second baseman, Cassie Hendrix, made a diving catch on a liner by Karlie Gillam, and the first inning ended with no score.
The Lady Flames took a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second on home runs by Howard and Strickland. Howard first hit a solo shot over the left field fence, and Strickland hit a two-run bomb, scoring Jenny Law, who had doubled earlier to right center.
Liberty added two runs to its lead in the top of the fifth, when Howard and Strickland each smacked their second home runs of the game, and third each of the day. Both players blasted homers in Friday's earlier win, an 11-0 route of Dartmouth.
Liberty pitcher Tiffani Smith got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with three consecutive walks. The Owls then scored their first run of the game when Burkett singled up the middle. Kennesaw State tacked on another run when Kelsey Kulk hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Swanson.
The Lady Flames found themselves with runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth, after J'nae Jefferson singled up the middle and pinch hitter Jenna Eatmon was hit by a pitch. That sparked the Owls to bring in relief pitcher Abbey Meixel to face Amber DePasquale.
DePasquale lined into a double play to the shortstop, who quickly threw Eatmon out at first. But Hendrix singled up the middle, moving Jefferson to third, and Howard singled up the middle for an RBI.
Next, Law hit her second double of the game, a shot to deep center field, allowing Hendrix and Howard to cross the plate to give the Lady Flames an 8-2 lead.
The Owls threatened a comeback in their final at-bat. Relief pitcher Katrina Johnson, in her second inning of work, struck out Jenson Hackett to begin the bottom of the seventh. After Ashley Burkett singled up the middle, pinch hitter cross doubled down the left field line to score two runs. Gillam then reached on a throwing error by Hendrix, and Jessica Cross was able to score to bring the Owls within three runs.
But Johnson held her ground, striking out Hannah Graham to end the game and give the Lady Flames an 8-5 victory.
Howard led the Lady Flames, batting 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Strickland was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Law was 2-for-2 with two doubles.
Cross led the Owls, batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Burkett was 2-for-3 and drove in a run.
Smith (3-1) picked up the win for the Lady Flames, striking out five batters and giving up two hits in five innings of work. Johnson gave up two hits and struck out two batters in two innings.
Amanda Burns took the loss for Kennesaw State, giving up eight hits and striking out two, while reliever Meixel gave up three hits and recorded on strikeout in two innings of work.
With their second win of the day and fourth in their last five games, the Lady Flames improve to 5-2 on the year, while the Owls drop to 8-5.
Liberty continues competing in the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic tomorrow, first with a matchup against Akron at 11 a.m., followed by a game against Rhode Island at 4 p.m.
The Owls put a runner on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Liberty second baseman, Cassie Hendrix, made a diving catch on a liner by Karlie Gillam, and the first inning ended with no score.
The Lady Flames took a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second on home runs by Howard and Strickland. Howard first hit a solo shot over the left field fence, and Strickland hit a two-run bomb, scoring Jenny Law, who had doubled earlier to right center.
Liberty added two runs to its lead in the top of the fifth, when Howard and Strickland each smacked their second home runs of the game, and third each of the day. Both players blasted homers in Friday's earlier win, an 11-0 route of Dartmouth.
Liberty pitcher Tiffani Smith got into a jam in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with three consecutive walks. The Owls then scored their first run of the game when Burkett singled up the middle. Kennesaw State tacked on another run when Kelsey Kulk hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Swanson.
The Lady Flames found themselves with runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth, after J'nae Jefferson singled up the middle and pinch hitter Jenna Eatmon was hit by a pitch. That sparked the Owls to bring in relief pitcher Abbey Meixel to face Amber DePasquale.
DePasquale lined into a double play to the shortstop, who quickly threw Eatmon out at first. But Hendrix singled up the middle, moving Jefferson to third, and Howard singled up the middle for an RBI.
Next, Law hit her second double of the game, a shot to deep center field, allowing Hendrix and Howard to cross the plate to give the Lady Flames an 8-2 lead.
The Owls threatened a comeback in their final at-bat. Relief pitcher Katrina Johnson, in her second inning of work, struck out Jenson Hackett to begin the bottom of the seventh. After Ashley Burkett singled up the middle, pinch hitter cross doubled down the left field line to score two runs. Gillam then reached on a throwing error by Hendrix, and Jessica Cross was able to score to bring the Owls within three runs.
But Johnson held her ground, striking out Hannah Graham to end the game and give the Lady Flames an 8-5 victory.
Howard led the Lady Flames, batting 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Strickland was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Law was 2-for-2 with two doubles.
Cross led the Owls, batting 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Burkett was 2-for-3 and drove in a run.
Smith (3-1) picked up the win for the Lady Flames, striking out five batters and giving up two hits in five innings of work. Johnson gave up two hits and struck out two batters in two innings.
Amanda Burns took the loss for Kennesaw State, giving up eight hits and striking out two, while reliever Meixel gave up three hits and recorded on strikeout in two innings of work.
With their second win of the day and fourth in their last five games, the Lady Flames improve to 5-2 on the year, while the Owls drop to 8-5.
Liberty continues competing in the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic tomorrow, first with a matchup against Akron at 11 a.m., followed by a game against Rhode Island at 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Tiffani (3-1)
L: BURNS, Amanda (0-0)
Batting:
2B: Law, Jenny 2
HR: Howard, Danielle 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 2
RBI: Howard, Danielle 3 ; Law, Jenny 2 ; Strickland, Kelly 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, Danielle 3 ; Law, Jenny 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1
CS: Baisden, Meredith 1
HBP: Eatmon, Jenna 1
PO: Hendrix, Cassie 1
Batting:
2B: WELLS, Klair 1 ; CROSS,Jessica 1
RBI: BURKETT, Ashley 1 ; KULK, Kelsey 1 ; CROSS,Jessica 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BURKETT, Ashley 1 ; KULK, Kelsey 1 ; CROSS,Jessica 1 ; GRAHAM, Hannah 1 ; SWANSON, Sharon 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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