Sunday, February 14
Charlotte, N.C.
1:00 PM
Liberty University
0-1
0
vs
8
St. John's
1-0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Liberty
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
St. John's
0
4
0
0
4
8
8
0
Two Four-Run Innings Lift St. John's Over LU
2/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lady Flames struggled to generate solid offense, and the Red Storm of St. John's took advantage of two four-run innings to defeat Liberty, 8-0, Sunday afternoon, at the D.L. Phillips Complex in Charlotte, N.C.
The Lady Flames' season opener was the only matchup Liberty played in the Charlotte Invitational. All other games were cancelled due to inclement weather on Friday night.
Despite each team putting a runner in scoring position in the first inning, neither team managed to put a run on the board. With one out, Amber DePasquale reached first after being hit by a pitch, and stole second on a wild pitch. But J'nae Jefferson popped out and Kelly Strickland struck out swinging.
Kaylee West led off the top of the second with a walk, and moved to second on a 6-3 grounder by Danielle Howard. Keely McMillon then busted a shot to right center field, but it was caught by center-fielder Kristi Cady. Designated player Ashley Bensinger popped out to shortstop to end the half-inning.
The Red Storm had a big inning in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-0 lead on a grand slam homer over the center field fence by leadoff batter Chelsea Durning.
The Lady Flames put two runners on in the top of the third. After Cassie Hendrix grounded out to third, Jenny Law walked, and DePasquale was again hit by a pitch. Jefferson was out on an infield fly, and Strickland ripped a liner to center field that was chased down by Cady, ending the scoring opportunity.
Liberty again threatened a comeback in the top of the fifth. After Law grounded out to third, DePasquale walked. Then, Jefferson recorded Liberty's first and only hit of the game with a hard-hit infield single. But the Lady Flames remained scoreless after Strickland grounded into a double play to end the half-inning.
St. John's closed the door in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four more runs to end the game with an 8-0 final decision. The home team ripped four hits in the last inning to seal the victory.
Jefferson led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-3. St. John's was paced by Durningg, who was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, while catcher Kacee Cox batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Red Storm hurler Kat Lawrence picked up the win in the circle, while Liberty starting pitcher Tiffani Smith took the loss. Lawrence gave up one hit and recorded four strikeouts in five innings, while
Smith gave up four hits and struck out three batters in three innings of work. Liberty relief pitcher Katie Warrington threw 1.1 innings, giving up four hits.
Liberty is now 0-1 on the season, while St. John's is 1-0.
The Lady Flames are back in action next weekend, appearing in the 2010 USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic. Liberty will kick off the tournament on Friday, squaring off against Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m.
The Lady Flames' season opener was the only matchup Liberty played in the Charlotte Invitational. All other games were cancelled due to inclement weather on Friday night.
Despite each team putting a runner in scoring position in the first inning, neither team managed to put a run on the board. With one out, Amber DePasquale reached first after being hit by a pitch, and stole second on a wild pitch. But J'nae Jefferson popped out and Kelly Strickland struck out swinging.
Kaylee West led off the top of the second with a walk, and moved to second on a 6-3 grounder by Danielle Howard. Keely McMillon then busted a shot to right center field, but it was caught by center-fielder Kristi Cady. Designated player Ashley Bensinger popped out to shortstop to end the half-inning.
The Red Storm had a big inning in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-0 lead on a grand slam homer over the center field fence by leadoff batter Chelsea Durning.
The Lady Flames put two runners on in the top of the third. After Cassie Hendrix grounded out to third, Jenny Law walked, and DePasquale was again hit by a pitch. Jefferson was out on an infield fly, and Strickland ripped a liner to center field that was chased down by Cady, ending the scoring opportunity.
Liberty again threatened a comeback in the top of the fifth. After Law grounded out to third, DePasquale walked. Then, Jefferson recorded Liberty's first and only hit of the game with a hard-hit infield single. But the Lady Flames remained scoreless after Strickland grounded into a double play to end the half-inning.
St. John's closed the door in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four more runs to end the game with an 8-0 final decision. The home team ripped four hits in the last inning to seal the victory.
Jefferson led the Lady Flames, batting 1-for-3. St. John's was paced by Durningg, who was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, while catcher Kacee Cox batted 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Red Storm hurler Kat Lawrence picked up the win in the circle, while Liberty starting pitcher Tiffani Smith took the loss. Lawrence gave up one hit and recorded four strikeouts in five innings, while
Smith gave up four hits and struck out three batters in three innings of work. Liberty relief pitcher Katie Warrington threw 1.1 innings, giving up four hits.
Liberty is now 0-1 on the season, while St. John's is 1-0.
The Lady Flames are back in action next weekend, appearing in the 2010 USC Upstate Campus Suites Spartan Classic. Liberty will kick off the tournament on Friday, squaring off against Eastern Kentucky at 5 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LAWRENCE, Kat (1-0)
L: Smith, Tiffani (0-1)
Base Running:
SB: McMillon, Keely 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
HBP: DePasquale, Amber 2 ; McMillon, Keely 1
Batting:
HR: DURNING, Chelsea 1
RBI: DURNING, Chelsea 4 ; COX, Kacee 2 ; CADY, Kristi 1 ; BERGER, Jenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DURNING, Chelsea 2 ; CURRY, Amber 1 ; HAWLEY, Britni 1 ; DOPUDJA, Stacia 1 ; MONTEZ, Chrissy 1 ; CADY, Kristi 1 ; SANCHEZ, Julia 1
SB: DURNING, Chelsea 2 ; CURRY, Amber 2
CS: GWYNN, Meghan 1
HBP: SANCHEZ, Julia 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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