Wednesday, April 22
Lynchburg, Va.
5:00 PM
Liberty University
16-30, 0
2
vs
3
Radford
30-12, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Radford Overcomes LU in Extra-Innings Battle
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames held onto a lead until the sixth inning, and the Highlanders were able to come back and take a 3-2 victory in eight innings to complete the sweep in a doubleheader at Liberty Softball Field, Wednesday afternoon.
Keely McMillon logged Liberty's first hit of the contest, ripping a single to left field with one out in the bottom of the second inning. But she didn't advance, as Kelly Strickland grounded into a double play to end the opportunity.
The Highlanders put a runner in scoring position in the top of the third when Leigh Godfrey doubled to left center with two outs, then stole third. But left-fielder Danielle Howard made a diving catch on the next play on a fly ball from Shifflett, and the game remained scoreless.
Radford was able to put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fourth. Sarah Himan singled up the middle, and pinch runner Kristy Brewer advanced to second when Nichole Beall singled through the left side. After a double-steal put runners on second and third with one out, Keefe tapped a short bunt that catcher McMillon retrieved and tagged out Brewer at home. Jenn
Everhart then popped up to shortstop to end the half-inning.
The Lady Flames took the lead for the first time of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Beth Bennett ripped a one-out homer over the scoreboard in center field, putting Liberty ahead, 1-0.
The Lady Flames were able to add another run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Howard drew a walk, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Bensinger. Right-fielder Jenna Eatmon then stepped up and belted a double in the gap in right center, and Howard crossed the plate, giving Liberty a 2-0 advantage.
The Highlanders answered in the top of the sixth, scoring a run to break Liberty's lead in half. Himan led off with a single to left field, and stole second as Nichole Beall struck out swinging. Michelle Beall walked, as Himan advanced to third on a wild pitch for ball four. Keefe then hit a long fly ball to right field, giving Himan the chance to tag up and bring the score to 2-1.
Radford tied it up in the top of the seventh after Creasy walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams, and crossed the plate when Shifflet singled to center field.
Kelly Strickland led off Liberty's last chance, and reached when she was hit by a pitch. Pinch runner Meredith Baisden advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Howard, but after Bensinger grounded out, she was caught stealing to end the at-bat, pushing the game into extra innings.
Himan was placed on second to begin the top of the eighth, and crossed the plate to give Radford a 3-2 lead when Michelle Beall singled to right center field. After Keefe popped out to second base, Everhart doubled to left field, but Beall was thrown out at the plate as Liberty avoided further damage.
Pinch runner Jenny Law was placed on second as the bottom of the eighth began, and stayed there when Eatmon singled on a pop fly in the infield that barely stayed fair. Both runners advanced when Cassie Hendrix laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Liberty had runners on second and third with one out.
J'nae Jefferson was up next, and reached on a fielder's choice, but Radford second baseman Everhart threw out Law at home, and the score stayed at 3-2 in Radford's favor. DePasquale then flied out to center field, and the Highlanders walked away with the Game 2 victory.
Himan led Radford, batting 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Lady Flames were led by Eatmon, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Bennett, who batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Kellie Snooks (15-6) took the win in the circle, giving up four hits and stirking out two batters in 4.1 innings of work.
Tiffani Smith (7-11) suffered the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out two batters in eight complete innings.
With the win, Radford (30-12, 12-2 Big South) stays atop the Big South standings. Liberty drops to 16-30 overall, and 4-7 in Big South play.
The two teams will meet for the single-game series finale at Radford on April 28. The game, originally scheduled for today, was moved after yesterday's doubleheader was postponed due to poor field conditions thanks to inclement weather in Lynchburg on Monday.
The Lady Flames are back in action this weekend when they welcome the Blue Hose of Presbyterian to town for a three-game Big South series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m., while the third game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m. at Liberty Softball Field.
Keely McMillon logged Liberty's first hit of the contest, ripping a single to left field with one out in the bottom of the second inning. But she didn't advance, as Kelly Strickland grounded into a double play to end the opportunity.
The Highlanders put a runner in scoring position in the top of the third when Leigh Godfrey doubled to left center with two outs, then stole third. But left-fielder Danielle Howard made a diving catch on the next play on a fly ball from Shifflett, and the game remained scoreless.
Radford was able to put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fourth. Sarah Himan singled up the middle, and pinch runner Kristy Brewer advanced to second when Nichole Beall singled through the left side. After a double-steal put runners on second and third with one out, Keefe tapped a short bunt that catcher McMillon retrieved and tagged out Brewer at home. Jenn
Everhart then popped up to shortstop to end the half-inning.
The Lady Flames took the lead for the first time of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Beth Bennett ripped a one-out homer over the scoreboard in center field, putting Liberty ahead, 1-0.
The Lady Flames were able to add another run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Howard drew a walk, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Bensinger. Right-fielder Jenna Eatmon then stepped up and belted a double in the gap in right center, and Howard crossed the plate, giving Liberty a 2-0 advantage.
The Highlanders answered in the top of the sixth, scoring a run to break Liberty's lead in half. Himan led off with a single to left field, and stole second as Nichole Beall struck out swinging. Michelle Beall walked, as Himan advanced to third on a wild pitch for ball four. Keefe then hit a long fly ball to right field, giving Himan the chance to tag up and bring the score to 2-1.
Radford tied it up in the top of the seventh after Creasy walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams, and crossed the plate when Shifflet singled to center field.
Kelly Strickland led off Liberty's last chance, and reached when she was hit by a pitch. Pinch runner Meredith Baisden advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Howard, but after Bensinger grounded out, she was caught stealing to end the at-bat, pushing the game into extra innings.
Himan was placed on second to begin the top of the eighth, and crossed the plate to give Radford a 3-2 lead when Michelle Beall singled to right center field. After Keefe popped out to second base, Everhart doubled to left field, but Beall was thrown out at the plate as Liberty avoided further damage.
Pinch runner Jenny Law was placed on second as the bottom of the eighth began, and stayed there when Eatmon singled on a pop fly in the infield that barely stayed fair. Both runners advanced when Cassie Hendrix laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Liberty had runners on second and third with one out.
J'nae Jefferson was up next, and reached on a fielder's choice, but Radford second baseman Everhart threw out Law at home, and the score stayed at 3-2 in Radford's favor. DePasquale then flied out to center field, and the Highlanders walked away with the Game 2 victory.
Himan led Radford, batting 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Lady Flames were led by Eatmon, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Bennett, who batted 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Kellie Snooks (15-6) took the win in the circle, giving up four hits and stirking out two batters in 4.1 innings of work.
Tiffani Smith (7-11) suffered the loss, scattering nine hits and striking out two batters in eight complete innings.
With the win, Radford (30-12, 12-2 Big South) stays atop the Big South standings. Liberty drops to 16-30 overall, and 4-7 in Big South play.
The two teams will meet for the single-game series finale at Radford on April 28. The game, originally scheduled for today, was moved after yesterday's doubleheader was postponed due to poor field conditions thanks to inclement weather in Lynchburg on Monday.
The Lady Flames are back in action this weekend when they welcome the Blue Hose of Presbyterian to town for a three-game Big South series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m., while the third game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m. at Liberty Softball Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SNOOKS, Kellie (15-6)
L: Smith, Tiffani (7-11)
Batting:
2B: GODFREY, Leigh 1 ; EVERHART, Jenn 1
RBI: SHIFFLETT, Kristen 1 ; BEALL, Michelle 1 ; KEEFE, Shannon 1
SH: WILLIAMS, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HIMAN, Sarah 2 ; CREASY, Hope 1
SB: GODFREY, Leigh 1 ; HIMAN, Sarah 1 ; BREWER, Kristy 1 ; BEALL, Nichole 1 ; KEEFE, Shannon 1
Batting:
2B: Eatmon, Jenna 1
HR: Bennett, Beth 1
RBI: Bennett, Beth 1 ; Eatmon, Jenna 1
SH: Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bennett, Beth 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1
SB: Hendrix, Cassie 1
CS: Baisden, Meredith 1 ; Pittman, Jennifer 1
HBP: Strickland, Kelly 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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