Lady Flames Erase 7th-Inning Deficit, Down LA Tech in 8, 11-6
3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Liberty softball team erased a two-run deficit when Kassidy McCoy hit a game-tying homer with two outs in the top of the seventh. The Lady Flames then erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, defeating Louisiana Tech by an 11-6 score, Friday at Tiger Park.
The Lady Flames (7-9) recorded a season-high 16 hits, while tying season highs with 11 runs and two home runs. Liberty is 2-0 against Louisiana Tech (14-4) this season, downing the Lady Techsters two Fridays in a row. Today's game lasted three hours and 30 minutes, Liberty's longest game, time-wise, so far this season.
McCoy went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Alexia Taylor and Mickey Loveridge both recorded three-hit games. Jaclyn Amader and Rylee Reynolds both went 2-for-4, while Sarah Robertson batted 1-for-4, a homer and two RBI.
For Louisiana Tech, Anna Cross, Kristen Miles, Pauline Tufi and Jessica Ball had two hits apiece. Tufi doubled and drove in two runs.
Liberty's Chase Cassady improved to 4-3 on the season, tossing three and two-thirds innings of two-hit, scoreless relief during which she struck out five and walked two. Julia DiMartino allowed two unearned runs on three hits, striking out two and walking three in 1 2/3 innings. Chandler Ball yielded four runs, three earned, on five hits with one strikeout and three walks in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Preslee Gallaway (4-1) gave up seven runs on eight hits, with four walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Starter Carolina Sanchez lasted 5 1/3 innings, yielding four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three and walking one.
Taylor singled to lead off the game, and Robertson was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on with two out. Deidra See then grounded into a fielder's choice, ending the threat.
The first two Lady Techster batters, Cross and Miles, both hit singles. A one-out walk to Morgan Turkoly loaded the bases. DiMartino got out of the jam unscathed, getting Kassie Harris to pop out and striking out Taria Page.
Liberty loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the second, on singles by Reynolds, McCoy and Loveridge. After two outs, a wild pitch sent McCoy home. Then, Amader plated Loveridge with an RBI single, before Cassie Gingerich was thrown out at the plate.
The Lady Techsters answered with two unearned runs in the second inning. Louisiana Tech tied the score 2-2 when Katie Smith and Cross scored on a two-out error. Ball entered the circle, and got the final out, as LA Tech left the bases loaded.
In the top of the fourth, Liberty regained its advantage. Loveridge drew a one-out walk, and Taylor singled with two outs. Amader then hit a high popup in front of the plate that catcher Natalie Moran dropped, allowing two runs to score.
Louisiana Tech matched Liberty's two runs, knotting the score in the bottom of the fourth. Miles led off with a single, and Tufi plated her with a double to left. Tufi later scored on a passed ball, tying the score at 4-4.
Following a 1-2-3 Liberty fifth, LA Tech took the lead for the first time. Karlee Jensen drew a walk with one out, and Cross followed by singling through the left side. Tufi singled to right, plating Jensen. Cross then scored while Tufi was caught in a rundown, for a 6-4 Lady Techster edge.
The Lady Flames had a golden scoring opportunity in the sixth stanza. McCoy and Loveridge led off with back-to-back singles. After two outs, Amader was intentionally walked, before Zavdony flied out to center for the third out.
Down to their last out, Reynolds singled to keep hopes alive. McCoy followed with a game-tying two-run blast to left. Loveridge reached second on a throwing error, before a groundout sent the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Louisiana Tech left the winning run at first to end the seventh, as Cassady struck out Tufi.
Liberty took control of the game with five runs in the eighth. Robertson hit a go-ahead two-run homer, and Loveridge later came through with a two-RBI single to make it 10-6. Taylor drove in the 11th run with an infield single, before Loveridge was thrown out at the plate.
Cassady set down the Lady Techsters in order during the eighth, sealing the victory.
The Lady Flames are currently playing against Tennessee Tech in the team's second game at the LSU Invitational.
