Opening play in the Athens Regional in Athens, Georgia, Liberty softball utilized a five-run fourth inning to pace the Lady Flames to a 6-3 win over Charlotte Friday afternoon. The loss ends a 16-game win streak for the 49ers, which was the longest active winning streak in the country.
With the win, the Flames advance to the Winners’ Bracket where they will take on the winner of No. 11 Georgia and UNC Wilmington on Saturday afternoon in a game scheduled for 1 p.m.
Rain played an impact on the action in Athens on Friday with Liberty and Charlotte originally scheduled for 3 p.m. being moved up to 1 p.m. to help avoid the weather. Still, spotty showers rained down on Jack Turner Softball Stadium throughout the afternoon.
Pitchers Sam Gress and Elena Escobar held both opposing lineups in check in the early innings with the game remaining scoreless heading into the fourth inning. It was the top of the fourth inning where Liberty would be the first to get into the scoring column, plating five runs in the frame to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
Raigan Barrett led off the inning with a bunt single. Last week’s Conference USA Tournament MVP Brooke Roberts laced a one-out ball to the gap in left center, scoring Barrett from first to break the scoreless tie.
After a couple of walks loaded the bases, Rachel Roupe stepped into the plate. The first-team all-conference performer was able to fight a pitch into shallow right field. Charlotte’s right fielder made a play on the ball, but it bounced underneath her glove, allowing Roupe to reach second base while two runners scored, pushing the Lady Flames into a 3-0 advantage.
Charlotte made a pitching change, but it wouldn’t keep Liberty’s bats from rolling. Sierra Kersten roped a ball down the right field line, landing just inside fair territory. Her double scored two more runs as Liberty went ahead 5-0.
The Lady Flames would add an insurance run in the fifth on Rachel Craine’s RBI double that scored KK Madrey and made the score 6-0. The 49ers would get in the scoring column with a solo home run in the fifth and another solo home run in the sixth, cutting the AAC champions’ deficit to 6-2.
Escobar would surrender one run in the seventh inning to secure the win and complete game for the Liberty pitcher. She tossed 7 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four, not issuing any walks, and hitting one.
The regional host and No. 11 national seed, Georgia, faces UNC Wilmington Friday afternoon. The winner advances to play Liberty Saturday afternoon in the winner’s bracket, while the loser will face the 49ers in an elimination game Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m.
