Liberty University
5-0
New Mexico State
1-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Liberty | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 1 |
Lady Flames Overpower Aggies, 11-2, to Complete Spring Games Sweep
2/15/2021 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty completed a doubleheader sweep over New Mexico State on Monday, scoring five runs in both the third and fifth innings on the way to an 11-2, five-inning victory to close out play at THE Spring Games.
The Lady Flames (5-0) finished off a very successful tournament, outscoring opponents by a combined 38-9. New Mexico State falls to 1-3.
Scoring Summary
NMSU – 1st INNING – Lopez homers, 1-0
Liberty – 1st INNING – Gibson doubles, Bishop-Riley scores, 1-1
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Canetto singles, Hodum scores, 2-1
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Sweat singles, Gibson and Hudson score, 4-1
Liberty – 3rd INNING – Channell singles, Sweat and Canetto score, 6-1
NMSU – 5th INNING – Lopez flies out the center, SF, Tanori scores, 6-2
Liberty – 5th INNING – Via singles, Channell and Wilson score, 8-2
Liberty – 5th INNING – Bishop-Riley homers, Via and Channell score, 11-2
Notable Numbers
- Liberty outhit the Aggies 12-3 while the Lady Flames committed the game's lone error. NMSU left seven runners on base, while Liberty stranded four.
- Making her first career start, freshman McKenzie Wagoner (1-0) allowed two runs on just three hits, striking out seven and walking three.
- Matalasi Faapito (0-2) drew the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in three innings before Chloe Rivas surrendered five runs in the final 1 2/3 frames.
- Amber Bishop-Riley (2-for-3) homered for the second game in a row, with her three-run blast ended the game in the fifth. Kara Canetto batted 2-for-3, while Savannah Channell went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Emily Sweat (1-for-2) drove in two and scored twice.
- Ramsay Lopez batted 1-for-2 with a homer, sacrifice fly, one run scored and two RBI.
Turning Point
- NMSU got on the board on Lopez' solo blast in the first, but Liberty matched that run in the home half of the inning. The Lady Flames tacked on five in the third and five in the fifth to end the game via run rule.
Beyond the Box Score
- Liberty now lead the all-time series 2-1 over New Mexico State in softball.
- Bishop-Riley and Arizona's Jessie Harper are the only two NCAA softball players, regardless of division, to hit 10 or more home runs in each of the last four seasons (2017-20). Bishop-Riley leads Harper 2-0 this year in the race to see who can be the first NCAA softball player to hit double-digit home runs in five straight seasons.
- Wagoner is the first Lady Flame since Elizabeth Engler (Feb. 12, 2017 vs. Chattanooga) to win her first career start.
- Wagoner's seven strikeouts are the most K's by a Liberty pitcher in her first career start since Julia DiMartino fanned seven Chattanooga batters on Feb. 12, 2016.
- Liberty is off to a 5-0 start for the first time since opening the 2018 season with six straight wins.
- Liberty has won each of its last 13 games against unranked opponents, dating to last year.
Up Next
Liberty will play at Troy Wednesday at 6 p.m. Eastern time before playing at the Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on the weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wagoner, McKenzie (1-0)
L: Matalasi Faapito (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Hailey Tanori 1
HR: Ramsay Lopez 1
RBI: Ramsay Lopez 2
SF: Ramsay Lopez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hailey Tanori 1 ; Ramsay Lopez 1
SB: Hailey Tanori 1
HBP: Nikki Butler 2
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Autumn 1 ; Gibson, Blake 1
HR: Bishop-Riley, Amber 1
RBI: Bishop-Riley, Amber 3 ; Gibson, Blake 1 ; Canetto, Kara 1 ; Sweat, Emily 2 ; Channell, Savannah 2 ; Via, Madison 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bishop-Riley, Amber 2 ; Hodum, Megan 1 ; Hudson, Caroline 1 ; Gibson, Blake 1 ; Canetto, Kara 1 ; Sweat, Emily 2 ; Wilson, Mary Claire 1 ; Channell, Savannah 1 ; Via, Madison 1
SB: Canetto, Kara 1
HBP: Sweat, Emily 1
