Liberty Shuts Down Radford, 1-0
4/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Liberty's Chase Cassady and Julia DiMartino combined for a one-hit shutout, and Kaitlin McFarland's solo homer provided the only scoring in a 1-0 Lady Flames win at Radford, Saturday.
With the win, Liberty's 11th shutout of the season, the Flames (32-12, 12-3 Big South) secured a 2-1 series win, sweeping today's doubleheader. Liberty is now tied with Longwood atop the Big South standings. Radford falls to 22-15, 6-6 in conference play.
Cassady (7-2) earned her second win of the day, allowing one hit in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one. DiMartino picked up her second straight save, pitching 2 2/3 hitless innings and striking out two. She set a new program single-season record with her fifth save. Cassady and DiMartino combined to retire the last 15 Radford batters in a row.
Abby Morrow (14-9) drew the loss, yielding one run on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. Kayla Huffman tossed 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief.
McFarland went 2-for-3 with one homer, one run scored and one RBI. Madi Clarke went 2-for-3 and Jaclyn Amader batted 2-for-4.
Hunter Mundy recorded Radford's only hit of the game.
Madison Via doubled to left center with two outs in the top of the second, but McFarland flied to left, leaving Via on second base.
The Lady Flames threatened to score in the third inning, getting base hits from Clarke and Amader. However, Jasmeen Click lined into an inning-ending, 6-3 double play.
Brianna Mills walked to lead off the bottom of the third before stealing second. Cassady left her there, with two strikeouts and a groundout.
McFarland launched a solo homer to left center, leading off the fifth inning. Clarke followed with an infield single. After a fielder's choice, Amader singled to left. A bunt single by Jasmeen Click loaded the bases. Huffman then entered the circle in relief of Morrow. Autumn Bishop flied out to right, and Taylor Hoffman was called out for leaving early from third, on appeal.
DiMartino relieved Cassady after one out in the bottom of the fifth, protecting a 1-0 lead. She set down the first two batters she faced, sending the game to the sixth inning.
The seventh inning saw McFarland hit a leadoff single into left field. The next three batters recorded outs, bringing Radford to the plate for the final time.
Liberty completed the shutout, as DiMartino tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Liberty returns home for its next four games, beginning next Tuesday, when the Lady Flames host Virginia Tech at 6 p.m. at Liberty Softball Stadium.
