From the opening pitch, it was a battle between two of the best softball programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia as No. 2 seed Liberty (42-14) and No. 3 seed James Madison (35-1) went blow for blow on Friday afternoon in game one of the NCAA Knoxville Regional in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Dukes were able to outlast the Lady Flames in 10 innings, 4-3.
The CAA Pitcher of the Year, Odicci Alexander improved her record to 13-0 and set a school record with 19 strikeouts as she pitched a complete game for JMU. Alexander, who entered the game with a 0.62 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched, had not allowed an earned run in any of her last eight appearances entering Friday’s game against Liberty.
Alexander and the ASUN Pitcher of the Year Emily Kirby exchanged scoreless innings through the first three frames as each team felt each other out. The Dukes picked up their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth, a triple, and would score the first run of the game on a passed ball. JMU would add another run in the inning with another triple as Kirby was chased from the game. Karlie Keeney came on in relief and struck out two batters to get out of the inning without any additional damage.
The lead felt massive with Alexander on the mound and James Madison having entered the game not allowing a run in 43 innings. That streak extended to 46 before the Lady Flames were able to end it in the bottom of the fourth inning as Liberty quickly answered. Liberty catcher Caroline Hudson doubled and scored two runners to tie the game at two.
For the next five innings, neither side was able to score a run as the two teams went to extra innings to decide this one. Keeney pitched six innings without allowing a hit in relief, but JMU would finally get to the Liberty pitcher in the top of the 10th inning with a one out double. Two batters later and the Dukes scored the eventual winning runs on another double to take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 10th.
ASUN Player of the Year Amber Bishop-Riley would lead off the bottom of the 10th inning with her 17th home run of the season, but Alexander would not allow another base runner as the Dukes advance into the winner’s bracket of the regional.
With the loss, Liberty is now in the loser’s bracket and will play the loser of No. 9 overall seed Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:30. If the Lady Flames win that game, the team will play another game immediately after. Liberty now has to win four consecutive games to advance to Super Regionals.
*photo courtesy ASUN sports
