Liberty softball salvaged the third game of this weekend’s series after being shut out by FGCU twice on Saturday. The Eagles (22-14, 4-2) became the first ASUN team since Kennesaw State, April 2-3, 2021, to win a conference series over Liberty.

Those two losses already surpass last year’s season total of conference losses when Liberty had just one in conference play. This past week was also book-ended with a pair of games against ACC opponents. The Lady Flames defeated North Carolina last Wednesday and lost to Virginia Tech on Tuesday night. Liberty is now 18-13 overall and 4-2 in ASUN play.

WEDNESDAY: LIBERTY 5, NORTH CAROLINA 1

North Carolina scored an unearned run in the second, but Keeney silenced the Tar Heel bats from that point on. Liberty responded in the fifth, scoring an unearned run of its own. Wilson led off the sixth with a double and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Craine. Howard drove in Lilly Heidorn for a 3-1 lead before Fortner’s two-run homer made it 5-1 in the seventh.

SATURDAY GAME 1: FGCU 1, LIBERTY 0

FGCU’s Ally Hulme tossed a five-hit shutout and the Eagles scored once in the seventh, edging Liberty 1-0 in Saturday’s series opener at Liberty Softball Stadium.

FGCU managed just one hit through the first six innings off of Keeney before Ricks’ leadoff single in the seventh. She stole second and then scored on an RBI double by Peterson. Hulme pitched around a one-out single to Madrey, sealing the shutout with back-to-back flyouts by Devyn Howard and Caroline Hudson to end the game.

SATURDAY GAME 2: FGCU 5, LIBERTY 0

The visiting FGCU Eagles built a 3-0 lead in the first inning and blanked Liberty 5-0 in Saturday’s second game of a doubleheader to compete the twin bill sweep.

FGCU scored three unearned runs in the first. Bachman walked the first two batters, and Filla then bunted, with Bachman throwing wildly to first, allowing one run score, and an errant throw from right field made it 2-0. Meek later beat out an infield hit for a 3-0 lead.

Liberty left runners on base in six out of the seven innings, including two runners stranded each in the first, third and sixth innings.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 3, FGCU 0

Karlie Keeney pitched a one-hit shutout, making a three-run second inning stand up as Liberty blanked FGCU 3-0 in game three of an ASUN series.

Liberty jumped ahead with a three-run second inning. Megan Fortner and Brynn McManus both walked. Woodard’s sacrifice fly gave Liberty the lead. Later in the inning, Devyn Howard’s grounder got through the first baseman, and the error allowed two more runs to score.

FGCU’s offense was held in check throughout, and the Lady Flames turned inning-ending double plays in the second and sixth frames.

TUESDAY: #12 VIRGINIA TECH 9, LIBERTY 5

Liberty trailed 5-3 entering the sixth inning and narrowed the gap to 5-4 on an RBI single from Fortner. With two outs and two on, Rachel Roupe drove one to left that was on its way out for a three-run homer before left fielder Emma Ritter robbed it.

Virginia Tech kept the momentum going in the home half of the sixth, getting two-run homers from Fagan and Greene. Howard drew the Lady Flames to within four at 9-5 with an RBI double in the top of the seventh. Alexis Soto lined a shot that was ticketed for an RBI extra-base hit, but it ended the game as Bailey snagged it at first base.

ON TAP

Friday, Mar. 31 vs Kennesaw State, 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 1 vs Kennesaw State, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Apr. 2 vs FGCU, Noon
Tuesday, Apr. 4 at Elon, 4:30 p.m.