Liberty softball bounced back from a doubleheader sweep at Duke to win four straight, including a win in Chapel Hill over the Tar Heels and a three-game sweep over Jacksonville State. The Lady Flames are off to its best start in league play since winning its first 23 ASUN games during the 2022 season. Liberty has won all 11 CUSA since joining the conference, including six sweeps. Liberty is now 27-6 overall and 8-0 in conference play.

TUESDAY GAME 1: #13 DUKE 7, #21 LIBERTY 3

The Blue Devils snapped Liberty’s 11-game win streak on Tuesday at Duke Softball Stadium. In the first game of a double-header, Duke led Liberty 3-2 with two outs in the top of the 6th when the Lady Flames loaded the bases. They would get out of the jam when pitcher Cassidy Curd came on to get a first-pitch groundout. The Blue Devils then struck for four runs in the 7th, building a 7-2 lead. Curd was able to work around a leadoff homer by Savannah Woodard in the 7th to earn the save.

Elena Escobar sustained the loss as she allowed two runs on six hits while walking four and striking out five in 3.1 innings. She would yield to Paige Bachman who pitched two earnings and Tyler Oubre who tossed 0.2 innings.

Brynn McManus, Paige Doerr, and Rachel Craine all had two hits, with Doerr doubling and driving in two.

TUESDAY GAME 2: #13 DUKE 3, #21 LIBERTY 2

The Blue Devils would sweep the midweek double header. They scored the game winning run in the 5th inning on an RBI single from KK Mathis. Blue Devils starting pitcher Sophie Garner-MacKinnon and the Duke defense made the run hold up, shutting out the Lady Flames in the final three innings to hang on for the one-run win.

Kaylan Yoder drew the loss, allowing three runs on five hits, issuing six walks and striking out four. Rachel Roupe hit her 10th homer of the season and Savannah Woodard had her sixth homer while Brooke Roberts went 2 for 3.

WEDNESDAY: #21 LIBERTY 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

The Lady Flames took a 2-1 lead with a 3rd inning run. Rachel Craine walked and Savanah Whatley doubled. Savannah Woodard then put the visitors ahead with an RBI groundout. UNC would threaten in the bottom of the 5th with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Elena Escobar got out of the game though with a strikeout and ground out.

Escobar earned the win, allowing one run on three hits while striking out 8 and walking one. Whatley was 3 for 3 with a double. Craine was 1 for 2 at the plate with one homer.

FRIDAY: #21 LIBERTY 3, JAX STATE 0

Elena Escobar pitched a one-hit shutout, blanking Jacksonville State in the CUSA series opener. While Escobar kept the Gamecocks off balance, the Lady Flames got all the scoring they would need on Rachel Roupe’s two run home run in the 3rd inning.

Escobar has tossed shutouts in each of her first three CUSA starts this season, going 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in conference play. Meanwhile, Roupe has hit six homers in her last seven games.

SATURDAY: #21 LIBERTY 12, JAX STATE 3 (6 innings)

The Lady Flames scored in every inning except the fourth, to earn the victory and series on Saturday. Kaylan Yoder got the win, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three in 4.1 innings. Paige Bachman pitched 1.2 innings of relief.

Brooke Roberts and Savannah Whatley both went 2 for 4 with a double while Brynn McManus was 2 for 2 with one RBI and two runs scored. Rachel Roupe hit yet another home run, her 12th of the season.

SUNDAY: #21 LIBERTY 5, JAX STATE 2

The Flames earned the series sweep on Sunday to remain unbeaten in conference play. Liberty pushed its lead to 5-2 with a 6th inning run. Alyssa Henault led off with a pinch-hit double and would score later on an RBI ground out. With two on and two out, Elena Escobar struck out Abbi Perkins to maintain the lead. Perkins had homered one inning earlier.

Escobar earned the win, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four and walking one in 3.2 innings of relief. Danner Allen made her first start since Feb. 26 against Virginia Tech. She allowed one run on two hits while striking out three in 3.1 innings.

ON TAP

Liberty is scheduled to take on Longwood on Wednesday at Liberty Softball Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The Lady Flames will then host UTEP for a three-game series in Lynchburg beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

CUSA STANDINGS

Liberty……………….8-0, 27-6
FIU……………………..7-2, 24-9
LA Tech……………..7-2, 24-9
Sam Houston…..6-3, 17-15
NMSU……………….5-4, 18-14
Jax State……………4-5, 20-12
MTSU………………..3-6, 13-19
WKU………………….2-6, 15-13
UTEP…………………2-7, 12-16
Kennesaw………..0-9, 9-24