No. 2 seed Liberty (43-14) utilized a strong second inning to push past No. 4 seed Eastern Kentucky (35-17) in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon in the Knoxville Regional. The Lady Flames would go on to win the game, 5-2, after scoring five runs in the second frame. With the win, Liberty advances to play No. 9 overall seed Tennessee in another elimination game that will begin just 35 minutes after the conclusion of the Liberty-EKU game.
In a battle of future ASUN conference members, Liberty jumped all over the Colonels in the second inning. Devyn Howard’s single and an EKU error, one of three errors in the inning, would score Emily Sweat for the first run of the game. After a couple of walks to load the bases, Autumn Bishop smoked the ball into the gap in right center for a bases-clearing double. Kara Canetto would reach base on a ball that was misplayed by the second baseman to score the fifth run of the inning, the most runs Liberty has scored in an inning in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.
Eastern Kentucky will join the ASUN alongside Central Arkansas and Jacksonville State beginning this coming fall as these two teams will become much more familiar with one another in the coming seasons.
Emily Kirby got the start for the second consecutive day. The ASUN Pitcher of the Year went 3.2 innings while allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five. She left with two outs in the fourth inning with the bases loaded as Karlie Keeney came on in relief and got out of the jam.
Like Friday’s game against James Madison, Keeney was superb in relief. She retired the first six batters she face until allowing a two-out single in the sixth inning. She pitched 3.1 innings out of the bullpen allowing only two hits without surrendering a run.
With the loss, Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Kentucky’s season comes to an end. Liberty meanwhile will be looking to advance to the regional final with a win over the No. 1 seed and host Tennessee in the Knoxville Regional. The Volunters are the No. 9 national seed and will be facing elimination after dropping the first game of the day Saturday in Knoxville to James Madison, 3-1.
*photo courtesy ASUN sports
