LU Records Season-High 12 Hits in Victory

The Lady Flames belted a season-high 12 hits in a Game 2 slugfest, taking the final game of the weekend series from Coastal Carolina, 11-9, to complete the sweep, Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Flames batted around in the top of the first, jumping to a quick 8-0 lead. Cassie Hendrix led off with a bunt single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by J'nae Jefferson. Strickland reached when she was hit by a pitch, and Bennett singled to left-center field brought home the game's first run.

After Danielle Howard struck out swinging, the rally continued. Keely McMillon doubled to right center to drive in two more runs, and Amber DePasquale followed suit with a double to left center, scoring McMillon to give the Lady Flames a 4-0 lead.
Kaylee West reached on a Coastal Carolina error, allowing DePasquale to score another Liberty fun. After Jenna Eatmon was hit by a pitch, Hendrix recorded her second single of the opening frame to load the bases. Jefferson then drilled a double to right center, bringing in three runs to push the score to 8-0.

The Chanticleers were able to put a run on the board in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Michelle Evans and Stacy Snellings delivered back-to-back singles, and then Olivia Williams reached on a Liberty fielding error to load the bases. Morgan Dodd followed with a walk, scoring Evans.

The Lady Flames struggled in the circle in the home half of the second, as three Liberty pitchers faced seven batters before recording an out, and the Chanticleers took advantage, scoring seven runs to tie the game, 8-8.

Jenna Eatmon had a big at-bat in the next inning, busting a triple to right field. Later, with two outs, she scored on a wild pitch, and Liberty regained a one-run lead, 9-8.

But the Chanticleers answered in the bottom of the third when Evans doubled to left center with one out, scoring Mecaela Ballard from second, tying up the game, 9-9.

Eatmon came through again for the Lady Flames in the top of the fifth, pounding a double to right field, allowing DePasquale to cross the plate and break the tie.

After pinch hitter Jenny Law lined out to shortstop, Jefferson drilled a single to center field, scoring Eatmon to put the Lady Flames ahead, 11-9.

Liberty never looked back, and the Chanticleers left five runners stranded over the final three innings, allowing the Lady Flames to walk away with the 11-9 win and a three-game series sweep to conclude the 2009 regular season.

Jefferson led the Lady Flames, batting 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while McMillon was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Eatmon was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Five Liberty starters had multiple hits in the contest.

The Chanticleers were led by Dodd, who was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Evans, who batted 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Tiffani Smith (10-12) picked up the win in the circle, scattering six hits and striking out three batters in six complete innings of work.

Ashley Frederick (6-11) took the loss, giving up five hits and striking out one batter in 0.2 innings pitched.

With the win, the Lady Flames end the 2009 regular season with a 22-33 overall record, and sit at 10-8 in conference play. Coastal Carolina drops to 15-36 overall and 4-14 in the Big South.

Liberty will enter next week's Big South Championship presented by Texas Roadhouse as the No. 3 seed, and will face No. 6 Coastal Carolina in the first round on Thursday in Radford, Va.

Schedule

LU Records Season-High 12 Hits in Victory

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Team Stats

Cassie Hendrix

J'nae Jefferson

Beth Bennett

Amber DePasquale