After opening the season a week ago with a tough five-game stretch, losing all five, the Liberty softball team bounced back in a big way this past weekend. The Lady Flames wrapped up a 5-0 weekend at The Spring Games at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida. Liberty evens its season record at 5-5, completing a two week, 10-game trip to Florida.
FRIDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 9, MARYLAND 0
Liberty sophomore Karlie Keeney tossed the first no-hitter over a Power Five team in program history as the Lady Flames run-ruled Maryland, 9-0, in five innings to pick up the team’s first win of the season. Liberty jumped ahead in the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits while capitalizing on three errors.
FRIDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 13, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 0
The Lady Flames posted its second run-rule win of the day, scoring six runs in both the second and third innings on the way to a 13-0, five-inning victory over FAU. The back to back shutouts on the same day was the first time Liberty has done that since April 25, 2021 against Bellarmine.
SATURDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 3, OHIO STATE 2
Liberty built an early 3-0 lead over the Buckeyes before withstanding a late rally to hold onto the win. Keeney earned her second straight win over a Big Ten opponent, allowing two runs, one earned on five hits in the complete game effort. Ohio State narrowed the gap to 3-2 with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Buckeyes advanced the tying runner to second base with two outs in the seventh, but Keeney forced a ground out to wrap up the win.
SATURDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 6, HOFSTRA 3
Megan Johnson earned the win for Liberty, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits, striking out a season-high six batters while walking none. Catcher Caroline Hudson was 2 for 4 with a double, triple, two RBI, and one run scored. The Flames built a 4-0 lead after three and a half innings and led 5-1 in the top of the sixth. Hofstra closed the gap to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, before Liberty added a run in the top of the seventh.
SUNDAY: LIBERTY 8, SOUTH ALABAMA 2
Liberty jumped out to an early lead with a four-run second inning. Shortstop Raigan Barrett added a home run in the fourth, which sparked a three-run Liberty fourth inning. The Jaguars would break up Keeney’s shutout bid in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run double.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CAROLINE HUDSON
Liberty sophomore catcher Caroline Hudson hit .529 (9 for 17) with two doubles, one triple, a home run, six RBI, and six runs scored over the past week. She also posted an .800 slugging percentage and .476 on base percentage. She raised her batting average from .091 entering the week to a team-leading .323 by the end of the week.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK: KARLIE KEENEY
Keeney finished the week with a 3-0 record and a 1.11 ERA in her three outings while holding opponents to a .162 batting average. Her highlight of the week was tossing a no-hitter against Maryland to help the Lady Flames pick up their first win of the season. She also went the distance against Ohio State while picking up the win against the Buckeyes and Hofstra to close out her weekend.
ON TAP
Liberty brings a five-game winning streak back to Lynchburg, where they will host the Liberty Softball Classic Friday and Saturday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium to begin an 11-game home stand. The Lady Flames will face George Washington and Charleston Southern on Friday before playing a doubleheader against Maine on Saturday. Liberty will also host in-state foe Virginia on Tuesday, March 1 at 5 pm on ESPN+.
