As Liberty’s softball program prepares for its first season in Conference USA, the Lady Flames are aiming to reach a fourth straight NCAA Regional.
The 2024 campaign gets underway Friday, February 9 as Liberty begins the season as part of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic. The Flames will face St. John’s and Oregon on Friday, Clemson and Missouri on Saturday, and Notre Dame on Sunday. It’s the start of a very tough schedule for Liberty, something that has become the normal under head coach Dot Richardson.
“This team, I’m hoping we start off through the games very strong,” Richardson said. “We have to. We are playing Oregon, Missouri, and then we’ve got Clemson, Notre Dame, UCF, Iowa, Illinois, Penn State.”
Liberty was voted by the league’s head coaches as the preseason favorite to win the 2024 CUSA softball championship. The Lady Flames also had the league’s Preseason Player of the Year in junior outfielder Rachel Roupe and the Preseason Pitcher of the Year in junior pitcher Paige Bachman.
“I do think what’s making Conference USA more competitive is the top programs competitively in the ASUN are coming to it,” said Richardson of Liberty’s new conference home. “You have Liberty, you have Jacksonville State – very strong – and, next year, Kennesaw State. It’s exciting to see that, adding to the strength they already had.”
In her first full season as a starting pitcher, Bachman went 10-9 with a 3.02 ERA and limited opponents to a .222 batting averaged. She tossed four shutouts, nine complete games and struck out 79 batters in 122 innings. During conference play, Bachman went 6-2 and ranked third in the ASUN in opponent batting average (.175) and fourth in ERA (1.65). She served as Liberty’s second pitcher behind ace Karlie Keeney who has transferred to Oklahoma. Now, Bachman steps into the limelight as the Flames’ ace.
After beginning her career playing first base and then last year going back and forth between the field and the circle, Bachman will now focus exclusively on her pitching game.
“She’s embracing it in a big way,” Richardson said of Bachman’s new role as the leader in the circle. “Everything is coming together now. We’re excited about her leadership.”
Behind her, Elena Escobar has transferred to Liberty after pitching for North Alabama for two seasons. She posted a 14-10 record and 2.94 ERA in 47 appearances, while making 27 starts and throwing 11 complete games. Escobar held Liberty to just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings pitched in the 2023 ASUN quarterfinals.
“She is steady,” Richardson said of Escobar. “She is consistent. She throws the ball hard. She’s getting more movement. I think she is going to have a major role for us this year. She beat us in the ASUN Championship, it’s fun she is joining us.”
Liberty returns several key pieces to the lineup from last year’s squad that defeated UCLA in the Regionals and put together one of the best seasons in school history. It begins in the outfield where three starters return beginning with Roupe in right field, as well as Mary Claire Wilson in center, and right fielder KK Madrey.
Roupe is coming off a breakout 2023 season where she earned first-team All-ASUN honors. She hit .317 on the year and posted a .415 on-base percentage and .634 slugging percentage. She tied for the ASUN lead with 15 home runs while ranking second in the league with 50 RBI.
“She is a perfectionist,” said Richardson of Roupe. “She is learning it is the pursuit of perfect and that takes the burden off of her. I hope she’s not thinking she needs to live up to something, she just needs to be Rachel Roupe. She is definitely a star to watch on the team.”
Wiilson enters her senior season with Liberty. Last year, she played in 60 games while starting 54 times in center field. She batted .272 with 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 28 RBI, 29 runs scored, a .322 on base percentage and .451 slugging percentage.
“She is lights out,” said Richardson of Wilson. “She’s playing fantastic. She is ready to have a good year. I’m excited.”
In left field, LSU transfer Madrey h as solidified herself for the Lady Flames. She started 60 games there last season where she was named ASUN first-team All-Conference and to the ASUN All-Tournament team. Madrey led the team with a .329 batting average and 26 stolen bases which ranked second in the ASUN. She also added five doubles, two home runs, 22 RBI, 40 runs scored and a .383 on base percentage. In conference play, she led all ASUN players with a .453 batting average.
“I’d put our outfield up against any in the country,” said Richardson.
Preseason All-CUSA selection Rachel Craine leads the way for the Flames on the infield. She started 58 games last year, including 46 at third base, where she is projected to begin the 2024 season. Craine was named ASUN All-Conference second-team after hitting .292 with 12 doubles, three homers, 29 RBI, 20 runs, and 21 walks. She set a new program record reaching base safely in 11 straight plate appearances from March 28 through April 1. Craine also sent the game winning two-run single into left center in the bottom of the seventh against All-American pitcher Valerie Cagle, giving Liberty a 5-4 comeback win over No. 6 Clemson.
Raigan Barrett had her 2023 season cut short, playing in 11 games while making 10 starts at shortstop before sustaining a season-ending injury. The Flames are hopeful she will regain her pre-injury form and help captain the infield at shortstop. In 2022, as a redshirt-freshman, Barrett started 52 times for Liberty, splitting time at both shortstop and second base while being named to the ASUN All-Freshman team.
At second base, Alabama transfer Savannah Woodard started 50 games for the Lady Flames in 2023. She is currently injured and expected to miss the beginning of the season, an absence that could last several weeks. In her absence, Coach Richardson is expected to turn to JUCO transfer Brooke Roberts to begin the year at second. Roberts was named the 2023 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year and a second-team All-American after excelling at Central Florida. She had 23 home runs, 87 RBI, and a .920 slugging percentage. She holds College of Central Florida career records for home runs, RBI, and slugging percentage.
Megan Fortner is a transfer from Jacksonville State who should step at first base for Liberty this season. Last year for the Gamecocks, Fortner started 48 times at first and was named third-team all-conference after finishing the season with a .292 batting average with seven doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 32 RBI, and 28 runs scored to go along with a .995 fielding percentage.
At catcher, Liberty will look to replace Caroline Hudson who was a big part of the Flames’ success the past few years. Sierra Kersten began her career at Michigan where she played for two seasons before transferring to Liberty. She started 28 times for Liberty last year, but she could begin the season at catcher for the Flames this season. She began working there in the summer and has made great strides. Savannah Jessee is another name to watch at catcher who may be slowed a bit to begin the season as she recovers from injury.
Liberty opens conference play March 8-10 in Miami against FIU. The Lady Flames’ CUSA home opener will be March 15-17 against Jacksonville State. Liberty will conclude the regular season May 3-5 at LSU before heading to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the 2024 CUSA Championship May 8-11.
“I can tell you this team is going to be very fun to watch,” Richardson said of her 2024 squad. “Defensively, a lot of returners. We’ve got a great mixture of speed, offensive consistency, and power. I’m excited to see them play.”
