Liberty opened the weekend with two wins at Louisiana Tech to clinch the team’s 16th consecutive CUSA series win, winning every series in conference play since joining the league. With the two wins, the Lady Flames also clinch a second straight CUSA softball regular season title. It is Liberty’s ninth conference regular season title all-time with six of those coming under current head coach Dot Richardson. The Lady Flames would conclude the weekend series with a come from behind win on Sunday to earn the sweep. Liberty is 41-10 overall and 20-3 in conference play entering the final week of the regular season.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 6, LA TECH 2

Liberty trailed 2-1 heading into the fifth inning where the Lady Flames capitalized on three Louisiana Tech errors. Rachel Roupe’s two-run homer provided the exclamation point in the frame and staking Liberty to a 5-2 lead as part of the four-run frame. Liberty’s lead was 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Paige Bachman came on in relief of Kaylan Yoder and was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam and help the Lady Flames close out the victory.

Liberty scored five unearned runs on four Bulldog errors in the game. Yoder earned the win to improve to 8-4 on the season while allowing two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out one in five innings.

Roupe was 2 for 4 on the evening and had two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored while KK Madrey stole her CUSA leading 40th base of the season as Liberty improved to 7-0 all-time against Louisiana Tech. Roupe is now tied with Jessica Moore for second place in program history with 58 career home runs. Her 18 home runs this season are the most by a Lady Flame since Amber Bishop-Riley had 19 in 2021.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 9, LA TECH 3

Liberty clinched the series and a second straight CUSA regular season championship, scoring nine unanswered runs to earn the victory on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Flames turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead with four runs in the third inning. The lead was extended to 7-3 in the sixth when Liberty got out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning. Liberty would then tack on two runs in the seventh before Paige Bachman retired the Bulldogs in order in the final frame.

Bachman gets the win and moves to 10-2 on the season, her second career 10-win season, also accomplishing the feat in 2023. She allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits in 6.2 innings. Tyler Oubre recorded one out tin relief.

Savanah Whatley batted 4 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. KK Madrey, Savannah Woodard, Paige Doerr, and Savannah Jessee all had two hits.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 6, LA TECH 3

The Lady Flames trailed throughout until mounting a comeback with four runs on two hits and two errors by the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh to complete the comeback.

Trailing 3-2 entering the final inning, Liberty catcher Alexia Carrasquillo earned a leadoff walk. After a strikeout, Savannah Woodard was able to reach base on an error by the second baseman who did not field the grounder cleanly. Following a wild pitch that allowed both runners to move up, Rachel Roupe was intentionally walked to load the bases. Brynn McManus delivered in the clutch with a two-run double that bounced off the left field wall and gave Liberty its first lead of the day at 4-3. A couple batters later and Rachel Roupe would score on the second error of the inning and the Lady Flames added its final run of the frame on an infield single to first base. Just one of Liberty’s four runs in the 7th inning were earned.

Elena Escobar shut the door in the 7th, retiring the Bulldogs in order. Escobar picked up the win to improve to 18-3 on the season. She tossed the complete game, going 7 innings while allowing three hits and just one earned run while walking two and striking out five.

ON TAP

Liberty plays at Virginia in Charlottesville on Wednesday at 7 pm. before hosting FIU for a three-game series to conclude the regular season. The Lady Flames are scheduled to take on the Panthers on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at noon.

CUSA STANDINGS

Liberty……………….20-3, 41-10
Jax State……………15-9, 33-18
LA Tech……………..14-10, 29-21
WKU………………….12-10-1, 27-19-1
Sam Houston…..12-12, 25-26
NMSU……………….12-12, 25-24
FIU……………………..11-12-1, 29-19-1
MTSU………………..10-14, 23-27
UTEP…………………10-14, 22-25
Kennesaw………..2-22, 11-39