For the first time in program history, Liberty softball is ranked nationally in the top 25 as the Lady Flames cracked the USA Today/NFCA Division Top 25 poll at No. 25 on Tuesday as voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.
The Lady Flames (39-13, 16-2) won the ASUN North Division title and advanced to the final four of the ASUN Tournament following a series win, 2-1, over Lipscomb in the quarterfinals this past weekend. Liberty’s loss in game two on Friday night to Lipscomb in extra innings brought to an end a 17 game win streak with the Lady Flames’ last loss coming on April 2.
Oklahoma kept its hold on No. 1 in the softball top 25 poll for the 11th straight week. Liberty faced the Sooners earlier this season in Norman, Oklahoma, falling by a score of 5-4 and 16-0. Alabama, currently ranked No. 3, beat Liberty earlier this season, 6-3 and 8-1. The Lady Flames defeated Arkansas, 2-0 in 10 innings in March, and the Razorbacks are currently No. 6 in the country. Liberty also dropped a pair of games to Oklahoma State, 9-4 and 3-0, who is currently ranked No. 9. Not shy for scheduling top opponents, the softball team lost to No. 19 Tennessee, 6-0, and defeated No. 20 Virginia Tech, 5-3. Liberty’s RPI is up to No. 19 this week.
The four-team double-elimination tournament for the ASUN tournament title will begin Thursday, May 13 and play through Saturday, May 15 when a champion will be crowned. All games will be played in Kennesaw, Georgia. The No. 1 seed in the South Division FGCU advanced with a 2-0 series win over No. 4 seed in the South Stetson. Kennesaw State, the No. 2 Seed in the North defeated No. 3 seed in the North North Alabama by a 2-0 series margin, and Jacksonville also advanced with a win on Saturday afternoon to edge North Florida 2-1 in the series.
The Lady Flames will play Jacksonville on Thursday at 3pm while Kennesaw State and FGCU will meet on Thursday at approximately 5:30. The two winners will advance to play Friday at 3 pm and the losers will meet in an elimination game on Friday at 12:30 pm. Liberty has not played Jacksonville this season. The Dolphins finished 9-9 in ASUN play this year.
