On Friday, Liberty softball welcomed Notre Dame to Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia as part of the Liberty Softball Classic being played this weekend. It marked only the second time Liberty has hosted Notre Dame in an athletic contest, as the Flames’ women’s lacrosse team played host to the Fighting Irish in 2019.
Liberty scored in the 1st inning to take an early 1-0 lead that would be extended when Amber Bishop-Riley hit a solo home run in the 5th inning. The Fighting Irish would tie the game with a two-run home run in the 6th, setting up the drama in the 7th where Bishop-Riley drove in her twin sister, Autumn, with a walk-off double as Liberty won 3-2.
The win is the 2nd in school history for a Liberty athletic team to defeat Notre Dame, as the Flames’ baseball team defeated the Fighting Irish on Feb. 22, 2008, 6-2, in Clearwater, Florida as part of the Clearwater Invitational.
Liberty founder Jerry Falwell, Sr. always cited Notre Dame as a model Liberty was striving for, and, the late founder, often spoke of his dream for the Flames’ football team to play and beat the Fighting Irish. The football team has yet to play Notre Dame, but Liberty now owns two victories over the Fighting Irish.
The Flames’ men’s basketball team has played Notre Dame three times, losing all of the contests. Women’s basketball is also 0-3 against Notre Dame, as is Liberty’s women’s lacrosse team. Softball was 0-4 all-time against the Fighting Irish before their win on Friday.
Liberty’s softball team improved to 8-4 on the 2021 season on Friday thanks to the win over Notre Dame and another walk-off win Friday afternoon against Villanova, 4-3, in 8 innings. The Lady Flames have two more games in the Liberty Softball Classic on Saturday, scheduled to play both Villanova and Notre Dame each one more time.
