No. 20 Liberty softball opened the new year at THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. The Flames posted a perfect 5-0 mark with three wins over Power Conference teams.
FRIDAY GAME 1: #20 LIBERTY 3, RADFORD 2
The Lady Flames opened the season with a 3-2, walk-off win over Radford at the Sleepy Hollow Softball Complex in Leesburg, Florida. The Lady Flames trailed 2-0 after four innings before Paige Bachman came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings. Liberty narrowed the gap to 2-1 on an RBI single by Savannah Woodard in the 5th, scoring KK Madrey.
The score remained the same entering the bottom of the 7th when Brooke Roberts led off the inning with a double. Madrey bunted for a single, moving Roberts to third. With runners on the corners, Radford’s catcher threw errantly behind Roberts at third, allowing her to score and tie the game. Savannah Whatley then hit an infield single, scoring Madrey for the walk-off win.
FRIDAY GAME 2: #20 LIBERTY 9, LOUISVILLE 4
Liberty broke a 3-3 tie with RBI hits by Roberts and Madrey in the 6th inning. The Lady Flames put the game out of reach with a four-run seventh. The Flames led Louisville 11-5 in hits. Elena Escobar earned the win, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out two. Madrey was 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI and one run scored while Roberts was 3 for 4 with 3 RBi and one run.
SATURDAY GAME 1: #20 LIBERTY 7, CLEVELAND STATE 0
Paige Bachman struck out six batters after giving up a leadoff single in the 2nd. She retired 12 straight batters in a stretch spanning from the 2nd through 5th innings. The Lady Flames jumped ahead with a four-run second inning, providing more than enough run support for Bachman who tossed her 5th career shutout. She allowed three hits while striking out seven and walking one. JaMaya Byrum was 2 for 2 with a double and two runs scored.
SATURDAY GAME 2: #20 LIBERTY 5, RUTGERS 2
Liberty led 3-1 in the bottom of the 6th when Rutgers loaded the bases with one out. Elena Escobar was able to get out of the jam with a foulout and a strikeout. Brooke Roberts’ two-run home run gave Liberty a 5-1 lead in the 7th. Rutgers would again load the bases in the 7th but was only able to score one run. Tyler Oubre earned the win, allowing one unearned run on one hit while walking three and striking out two in four innings. Escobar earned the save while allowing one run on four hits in three relief innings.
SUNDAY: #20 LIBERTY 7, RUTGERS 4
In a rematch against the Scarlet Knights Sunday to conclude the weekend, Liberty fell behind when Rutgers scored one in the top of the first. It was a back and forth contest as the Lady Flames answered with two runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take the lead 2-1 thanks to a Savannah Jessee sacrifice fly and KK Madrey RBI single. Rutgers responded in the top of the fourth with three runs but left the bases loaded. The Lady Flames then scored four in the bottom of the 4th thanks to a two-run single from Madrey, an RBI single by Whatley, and then a two-run single from Rachel Roupe. Bachman would shut down Rutgers to close out the win and perfect weekend for the Flames.
ON TAP
Liberty remains in Florida this week and will play a single non-conference game at UCF in Orlando on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Lady Flames will then turn their attention to the Shriners Childeren’s Clearwater Invitational which begins Friday. Liberty is scheduled to face Charlotte at 12:30 and then #11 Alabama at 4:30, both on ESPN+. On Saturday, a doubleheader against #15 Missouri (SEC Network) and Wichita State (ESPN+) begins at 10:30. Liberty will conclude their stay in Florida to open the season on Sunday at noon against Auburn on ESPN+.
