Liberty softball was able to advance to the final four of the ASUN Softball Championship with a 2-1 series win over Lipscomb at Liberty Softball Stadium this weekend. The Lady Flames, the No. 1 seed in the North Division, had a little bit of a scare from the No. 4 seed in the North Division Lipscomb as the Bisons were able to split the double header on Friday.

Entering the three-game series, Lipscomb had not scored a run all season against Liberty. That continued in game one before the Bisons got on the scoreboard in game two. Liberty’s loss in game two on Friday night brought to an end a 17 game win streak with the Lady Flames’ last loss coming on April 2.

GAME 1: LIBERTY 1, LIPSCOMB 0

Liberty won the first game of the best of three series on Friday afternoon at Liberty Softball Stadium after a 30-minute weather delay. Lady Flames’ ace Emily Kirby got the start and led the team to a victory in the pitcher’s duel. The left-hander pitched a complete game shutout while striking out six and only allowing four hits.

Liberty scored their run in the bottom half of the 5th inning when Amber Bishop-Riley’s line drive off the right field wall went for a long single and scored her sister Autumn Bishop from first. The Lady Flames had an opportunity for more runs in the frame, but the Lipscomb right fielder made a sliding catch near the wall and almost in foul territory which stole at least a double from Emily Sweat and prevented Liberty from adding to the lead.

The Lady Flames nearly took the lead in the 2nd inning, but Savannah Channell was thrown out at the plate on Madison Via’s double to center field. Lipscomb threatened a couple of times, including in the top half of the 7th when the Bisons got their leadoff runner on base and then sacrificed over to 2nd with 1 out before Kirby shut down the Lipscomb bats to preserve the win.

GAME 2: LIPSCOMB 8, LIBERTY 7 (8 innings)

The Bisons struck first against Liberty in game two, scoring their first runs in 30 innings against the Lady Flames this season when they plated two in the top of the 3rd. Lipscomb did all their damage in the inning starting with a two out walk and a stolen base. A couple of base hits and another steal and Lipscomb took a 2-0 lead off Liberty pitcher Karlie Keeney.

The Lady Flames didn’t waste much time to answer as Autumn Bishop hit a one-out solo home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the 3rd. Amber Bishop-Riley would then single and move to second on fielder’s choice. She would score on a two-out double by Emily Sweat to tie the game at 2.

Lipscomb would get it going again in the 5th, scoring four runs in the inning as they knocked Karlie Keeney out of the game and freshman McKenzie Wagoner entered in relief. Wagoner only recorded one out as Naomi Jones replaced her as the Bisons continued to bat. Jones would retire the first two batters she faced but not until after the Bisons took the 6-2 lead.

Liberty wouldn’t go down without a fight as they clawed back into this one. Caroline Hudson hit safely to begin the bottom of the 5th and Amber Bishop-Riley would absolutely destroy a ball over the left field wall to bring the Lady Flames with two at 6-4. After Jones retired the Bisons in the 6th, Bishop-Riley’s infield single scored Madison Via to cut the deficit to 6-5 after six innings.

In the top of the 7th, the Bisons added a much needed insurance run to go back up by two runs at 7-5. Down to their final three outs, Liberty loaded the bases for Caroline Hudson with two outs. The hero last week against Virginia Tech, Hudson came through in the clutch once again as her single to left field scored two to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Lipscomb continued to battle back and scored another run in the top of the 8th to take an 8-7 lead. Kara Canetto would reach on a one-out single for the Lady Flames in the 8th, followed by an Emily Sweat walk. Canetto would advance to third before Savannah Channell would line out to third who was able to double up Sweat at first and clinch the win.

GAME 3: LIBERTY 8, LIPSCOMB 0

Liberty came out determined to start the game Saturday afternoon. After Emily Kirby retired the Bisons to open the game, the Lady Flames batted around and plated 5 runs to grab the early 5-0 lead after one inning. The Bishop sisters opened the game with back to back doubles followed by an Emily Sweat two-run home run to center field. Devyn Howard followed with an RBI double to left field and Madison Via added an RBI single to right field.

Lipscomb attempted to get back into the game in the 2nd inning with runners advancing to 2nd and 3rd before Kirby escaped the jam. Kirby again escaped trouble in the top of the 4th as Lipscomb had runners on 1st and 3rd with one out. Liberty was able to get out of the inning with a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play.

The Lady Flames added a few insurance runs in the 6th inning for the final score.

With the series win, Liberty advances in the ASUN Softball Championship where the remaining four teams will descend upon Bailey Park in Kennesaw, Georgia. The four-team double-elimination tournament will begin Thursday, May 13 and play through Saturday, May 15 when a champion will be crowned.

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.

*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics