Liberty softball met up with Duke in the winner’s bracket of the 2022 Durham Regional on Saturday afternoon, falling to the host Blue Devils, 5-0. With the loss, the Lady Flames fall into the loser’s bracket where they will face the winner of this evening’s game between Georgia and UMBC. First pitch scheduled for later tonight.
After pitching a three-hit, shutout gem where she struck out 13 batters on Friday against Georgia, Emily Kirby was called on once again by Liberty head coach Dot Richardson to begin the game against Duke on Saturday. Kirby did something she didn’t do all day against the Bulldogs Friday to begin the game, as she set the Blue Devils down in order in the top of the first.
The ASUN Pitcher of the Year wasn’t able to carry that over into the second inning though. Duke strung together two hits on Kirby in the second, along with a hit by pitch, a walk, and two Liberty errors as the Blue Devils jumped on top of Liberty 2-0 and chased Kirby from the game.
That would be all the damage Duke would need in the game though, as their starting pitcher Peyton St. George tossed a six-hit shutout while striking out five and walking one. Liberty, who was trying to duplicate its effort against the Blue Devils from April 20 in Lynchburg when the Lady Flames knocked off Duke, 8-3, was unable to muster much on offense throughout the game.
The only time Liberty put together much of a threat came in the bottom of the sixth. After the Blue Devils had extended their lead to 5-0 and the Flames were down to their final six outs, Liberty had three singles to load the bases with one out. St. George was able to get out of the jam, leaving the bases loaded, as she forced Mary Claire Wilson into a fly out and then struck out Alexis Soto.
Karlie Keeney pitched three innings in relief of Kirby, giving up three runs on four hits. Megan Johnson tossed the final three innings, allowing just one hit without surrendering a run.
Liberty will have to pick up a win Saturday night to remain alive and advance to Sunday’s Regional Final. If the Lady Flames win tonight, they will have to defeat Duke twice on Sunday to reach the Super Regionals.
Here’s an updated look at the Durham Regional schedule:
Friday, May 20
Game 1: (3) Liberty 2, (2) Georgia 0
Game 2: (1) Duke 4, (4) UMBC 0
Saturday, May 21
Game 3: (1) Duke 5, (3) Liberty 0
Game 4: (2) Georgia vs (4) UMBC, 3:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs (3) Liberty, 6 p.m. (elimination game)
Sunday, May 22
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs Loser Game 6, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)
