Liberty Edges Virginia, 3-2, for 40th Win
5/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty pushed its winning streak to 10 games, downing Virginia, 3-2, in comeback fashion, during game one of a doubleheader, Tuesday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
With the win, Liberty improves to 40-12 on the year, its fourth 40-win season in program history and second in a row. The Lady Flames are the 13th NCAA Division I softball team in the country to reach 40 wins this season, and they set a program record with their 14th consecutive home victory. Virginia falls to 12-40 following its 13th straight loss.
For the game, Liberty outhit Virginia, 9-6. The Lady Flames left 10 runners on base, while the Cavaliers stranded seven.
Liberty's Julia DiMartino (23-7) set a new program single-season record with her 23rd victory, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking three. She extended her shutout streak to 35 2/3 innings before giving up a third-inning run. DiMartino has tied Katie Phillips (1996-99) for the program career record with 62 career victories.
Lacy Smith (5-12) drew the loss, giving up three runs on nine hits, walking four and striking out one.
Jessica Cicerchia, entering the game due to an injury in the second, went 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Jaclyn Amader batted 2-for-4 with her conference-leading seventh triple of the season and one run scored. Madison Via batted 2-for-2 with two RBI.
Virginia's Madi Traver went 2-for-3, while Hayley Busby hit 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and one run scored.
Smith walked three batters in the bottom of the first inning, and Via drove in a run with a bases-loaded run. Liberty left the bases loaded when Taylor Hoffman grounded out to the shortstop.
The Cavaliers put runners on second and third in the second frame, via a walk to Erika Osherow and a Madi Traver double. However, a foulout ended the threat.
Virginia took the lead in the top of the third, as Allison Davis' leadoff single was followed by a two-run shot to left by Busby which made it 2-1, Virginia
A leadoff bunt single by Cicerchia set the table for Liberty's third inning. Robertson hit a one-out single, and Via later tied the game at 2-2 by singling through the right side with two outs. A walk to Hoffman loaded the bases, but Alexia Taylor's flyout brought the inning to a close.
Kate Covington and Traver hit consecutive singles to start the fourth. A sacrifice bunt sent both runners ahead one base. However, second baseman Cicerchia made two fine defensive plays to maintain the tie score.
Amader led off the bottom of the fifth by lining a triple off the wall in right. She later scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout by Kaitlin McFarland. Via and Hoffman followed with two-out singles, but Liberty left both stranded.
DiMartino retired 10 Cavaliers in a row before walking Busby with two outs in the top of the seventh. She induced a game-inning groundout to shortstop off the bat of Olivia Gott.
