Friday, May 1
Conway, S.C.
6:00 PM
Liberty University
20-33, 0
8
at
1
Coastal Carolina
15-34, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
| Coastal Carolina | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
LU Clinches Third Place with 8-1 Win
5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kelly Strickland had her second two-homer performance since April 24, as the Lady Flames defeated the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina, 8-1, in the first game of a three-game conference series, Friday night, in Conway, S.C.
The Lady Flames jumped all over the Chanticleers in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs to take an early lead. With one out, J'nae Jefferson extended her hitting streak to 10 games when she singled to left field, then stole second. Strickland followed by pounding a double down the left field line, and Jefferson crossed the plate to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.
After Strickland advanced to third on a wild pitch, Beth Bennett walked to put runners on the corners with only one out, and she immediately stole second to put herself in scoring position.
After Danielle Howard struck out swinging, Keely McMillon hit a timely single through the left side, scoring Strickland and Bennett, and the Lady Flames found themselves with a 3-0 advantage.
The Chanticleers threatened to tie it up in the bottom of the second inning, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Stacy Snellings reached when she was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second when Sarah Maples laid down a bunt that got past Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis.
Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Morgan Dodd. Olivia Williams then singled up the middle for an RBI, bringing Coastal Carolina within two runs, 3-1. Cassie Hendrix ended the home team's scoring for the inning on the next play, turning an unassisted double play on a ground ball by Williams.
Liberty padded its lead in the top of the fifth, starting with a two-run homer over the left field fence by Strickland, her fifth of the year. Next, Bennett walked, and promptly stole second, then scored on a single to left by McMillon, and Liberty held a 6-1 lead.
Hendrix turned her second unassisted double play in the bottom of the sixth, holding the Chanticleers to just one run in the contest.
The Lady Flames continued to dominate the game, busting two solo home runs in the top of the seventh. Strickland hit her second bomb of the game over the left field wall, and Bennett followed up with a shot in the same spot, putting Liberty ahead, 8-1.
The Chanticleers could not muster any offense in the bottom of the seventh, and Liberty walked away with an 8-1 Big South win.
The Lady Flames tied a season-high 11 hits in the contest. Liberty was led by Strickland, who batted 3-for-4 with four RBIs, and McMillon, who was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Bennett, who set a new school record with her 240th consecutive career game start, was 1-for-2 with three runs scored, and her team-leading ninth home run of the season.
Williams led Coastal Carolina, batting 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Ellis (12-21) picked up the win, giving up five hits and striking out seven batters in the complete-game appearance.
Ivy McCranie (3-8) took the loss, giving up 10 hits and striking out four batters in 6.1 innings of work.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 20-33 overall and 8-8 in the conference, clinching third place in the conference standings.
Liberty will enter next week's Big South Championship as the No. 3 seed.
Coastal Carolina drops to 15-34 overall and 4-12 in the Big South, and will go into the postseason tournament as the sixth seed.
Liberty and Coastal Carolina will conclude the 2009 regular season tomorrow, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
The Lady Flames jumped all over the Chanticleers in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs to take an early lead. With one out, J'nae Jefferson extended her hitting streak to 10 games when she singled to left field, then stole second. Strickland followed by pounding a double down the left field line, and Jefferson crossed the plate to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.
After Strickland advanced to third on a wild pitch, Beth Bennett walked to put runners on the corners with only one out, and she immediately stole second to put herself in scoring position.
After Danielle Howard struck out swinging, Keely McMillon hit a timely single through the left side, scoring Strickland and Bennett, and the Lady Flames found themselves with a 3-0 advantage.
The Chanticleers threatened to tie it up in the bottom of the second inning, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Stacy Snellings reached when she was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second when Sarah Maples laid down a bunt that got past Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis.
Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Morgan Dodd. Olivia Williams then singled up the middle for an RBI, bringing Coastal Carolina within two runs, 3-1. Cassie Hendrix ended the home team's scoring for the inning on the next play, turning an unassisted double play on a ground ball by Williams.
Liberty padded its lead in the top of the fifth, starting with a two-run homer over the left field fence by Strickland, her fifth of the year. Next, Bennett walked, and promptly stole second, then scored on a single to left by McMillon, and Liberty held a 6-1 lead.
Hendrix turned her second unassisted double play in the bottom of the sixth, holding the Chanticleers to just one run in the contest.
The Lady Flames continued to dominate the game, busting two solo home runs in the top of the seventh. Strickland hit her second bomb of the game over the left field wall, and Bennett followed up with a shot in the same spot, putting Liberty ahead, 8-1.
The Chanticleers could not muster any offense in the bottom of the seventh, and Liberty walked away with an 8-1 Big South win.
The Lady Flames tied a season-high 11 hits in the contest. Liberty was led by Strickland, who batted 3-for-4 with four RBIs, and McMillon, who was 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Bennett, who set a new school record with her 240th consecutive career game start, was 1-for-2 with three runs scored, and her team-leading ninth home run of the season.
Williams led Coastal Carolina, batting 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Ellis (12-21) picked up the win, giving up five hits and striking out seven batters in the complete-game appearance.
Ivy McCranie (3-8) took the loss, giving up 10 hits and striking out four batters in 6.1 innings of work.
With the win, the Lady Flames improve to 20-33 overall and 8-8 in the conference, clinching third place in the conference standings.
Liberty will enter next week's Big South Championship as the No. 3 seed.
Coastal Carolina drops to 15-34 overall and 4-12 in the Big South, and will go into the postseason tournament as the sixth seed.
Liberty and Coastal Carolina will conclude the 2009 regular season tomorrow, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Sarah (12-21)
L: McCRANIE, Ivy (3-8)
Batting:
2B: Strickland, Kelly 1
HR: Strickland, Kelly 2 ; Bennett, Beth 1
RBI: Strickland, Kelly 4 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; McMillon, Keely 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 3 ; Bennett, Beth 3
SB: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Bennett, Beth 2
Batting:
2B: SNELLINGS, Stacy 1
RBI: WILLIAMS, Olivia 1
SH: DODD, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SNELLINGS, Stacy 1
HBP: SNELLINGS, Stacy 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
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