The Liberty softball team won their first two games of the Columbia regional in South Carolina this weekend to advance to Sunday’s regional final. The two wins were the first two NCAA Tournament victories in school history. The Flames defeated Hofstra, 2-0, in 10 innings on Friday night, and then defeated #9 South Carolina, 3-1, on Saturday.
The Flames had to face host USC after the Gamecocks hit a 2-run walk-off homerun against Hofstra Saturday night to advance to the regional final. In the double elimination tournament, South Carolina had to defeat Liberty twice in order to advance to the Super Regionals.
In game 1, the Gamecocks utilized a 2-run homerun by Cayla Drotar in the top of the 3rd to defeat Liberty and force a 2nd game. The loss snapped Liberty’s 19 game winning streak, the longest in the country at the time.
In game 2, USC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning thanks to a controversial call. With runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs, South Carolina’s Kenzi Maguire grounded to 2nd where it was fielded by Amber Bishop. Bishop made the play at 2nd to tag out the runner; however, the umpire ruled Bishop did not have complete control of the ball. As Liberty questioned the call, USC’s runner scored from 2nd.
The Gamecocks would go on to score 4 more runs in the bottom of the 6th to take a commanding 5-0 lead as they advanced to the Super Regionals by that score.
Pitcher Julia DiMartino pitched 25 innings on the weekend while only surrendering 5 runs.
Liberty’s season comes to an end with an overall record of 49-14.
