After winning its first two games in the Athens Regional to advance to the regional final for the fourth time in six years, Liberty was just one out away from advancing to the program’s first ever Super Regional. However, the Lady Flames were unable to finish the job, falling to Georgia in game two of the regional final, 3-2.
Leading 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Liberty was just three outs away from history. The inning would start with KK Madrey making a leaping highlight catch in left field to record the first out. The Bulldogs would then get a single and a sacrifice bunt would move the runner into scoring position at second base with two outs as Liberty was just one out away.
Back to back RBI singles would first tie the game and then lift No. 11 national seed Georgia to the walk-off victory as they advance to Super Regionals.
The loss spoils a terrifically pitched game from Elena Escobar. She held Georgia to just one run through the first six innings of the game. Escobar finished the game pitching 6.2 innings allowing six hits, three runs, two of them earned, while walking two and tying a career high with 10 strikeouts.
The Lady Flames broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth thanks to a couple of doubles by Brynn McManus and Savannah Jessee. Jessee’s ball hit off the wall in left field, allowing the pinch runner Lilly Heidorn to score the first run of the game.
Last week’s CUSA Tournament MVP Brooke Roberts smashed a ball over the fence in right center in the top of the fifth, putting the Flames up 2-0. After struggling offensively through much of the regular season, the second baseman continues her hot play in the postseason helping her team when it mattered most. It wouldn’t be enough offense for the Flames though.
The Bulldogs put runners on 1st and 2nd in the sixth. They were finally able to get a runner across home plate as Syndney Chambley scored from second base on a deep fly ball hit to the wall in left center. Liberty center fielder Mary Claire Wilson ran a long way to track the ball down and record the out. She also had to avoid left fielder KK Madrey and avoid crashing into the wall. As she did, she dropped the ball, allowing Chambley to reach home, cutting their deficit to 2-1.
Georgia forced a winner-take-all game two after they defeated Liberty, 14-5, in game one earlier in the day Sunday.
In a game that had its start time pushed back an hour due to rain in the Athens area Sunday morning, it was the Bulldogs who jumped out to a big lead early in the game. Thanks in part to four home runs, the regional host led 9-0 entering the bottom of the fourth.
Liberty would not go down without a fight, scoring four runs in the home half of the fourth. Brooke Roberts had an RBI single followed by a three-run home run by Rachel Craine, making the score 9-5. Other than a Savannah Jessee solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, that would be all the highlights for the Lady Flames in game one.
The Bulldogs would add insurance runs with three in the fifth and two in the seventh for the final score of 14-5.
Liberty’s season comes to a heartbreaking conclusion. The Lady Flames finish the season at 38-25 overall and are still seeking that elusive first ever trip to the Super Regionals.
