Liberty softball continues to lead Conference USA, winning six games in a row to improve to 26-16 overall and 15-3 in conference play. The Lady Flames have won all six Conference series so far this season, including three sweeps. This weekend, a sweep of Middle Tennessee, was Liberty’s first road sweep in conference action this season.

WEDNESDAY: LIBERTY 1, #24 VIRGINIA 0

Liberty freshman Katie Love tossed a shutout as the Flames blanked No. 24 Virginia on Tuesday in Charlottesville. Liberty is 3-6 against Top 25 teams t his season with victories over No. 25 Penn State and No. 21 Charlotte, in addition to the win over the Cavaliers.

The Lady Flames manufactured the game’s only run in the fifth inning. KK Madrey hit a leadoff single before stealing second. Rachel Craine then walked. A groundout sent the runners ahead to second and third before Sierra Kersten’s RBI groundout scored Madrey from third.

The Cavaliers put two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the fifth, on a single and an error. Love retired the next two batters before pitching a 1-2-3 sixth. She worked around a two-out single in the seventh to complete the shutout.

It was Love’s third shutout of the season, allowing just six hits while striking out three. The Lady Flames are now 6-3 in one-run games this season and 19-0 when leading after six innings.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 8, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1

Liberty scored eight unanswered runs, surging for a series opening win over Middle Tennessee on Friday at Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Lady Flames broke open a tie game by scoring five runs in the fourth inning. Raigan Barrett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving Liberty the lead. Brooke Roberts’ two-run single made it 4-1, before Sierra Kersten (sac fly) and Rachel Roupe (double) added RBIs to pad the lead.

Kaylan Yoder allowed one unearned run on three hits, walking five and striking out seven in six innings. She is 5-1 with a 0.17 ERA in six Conference USA series openers this season. Paige Bachman pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.

Hailey Deter posted her second three-hit game of the season, going 3 for 3 with one run scored. Rachel Roupe was 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 5, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1

Liberty hit home runs in the first two innings and Elena Escobar silenced Middle Tennessee’s bats during a win on Saturday, securing the series victory.

The Lady Flames got all the scoring they needed in the top of the first. Hailey Deter doubled before Megan Fortner hit a two-run Homer to right. The Flames added one run in the second on Raigan Barrett’s solo home run.

The Blue Raiders scored on a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the third, the only blemish on a two-hit outing by Liberty’s Elena Escobar. She allowed one run on two hits, tying her career high with 10 strikeouts to improve to 7-2 on the season.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 4, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 3 (9 INNINGS)

Megan Fortner’s two-out, two-strike solo home run in the top of the ninth inning pushed the Lady Flames past Middle Tennessee, securing a series sweep on Sunday.

MTSU nearly pulled off the win in the bottom of the seventh. Lexi Medlock reached on an error to start the rally. A sacrifice bunt sent her to second, and Medlock went to third after Sierra Kersten threw to first to complete a strikeout. Elena Escobar fanned Shelby Sargent for the third out, stranding the winning run just 60 feet away.

With two outs and a 2-2 count in the top of the ninth, Fortner smashed a solo home run to center field, giving Liberty a 4-3 lead. In the home half, Escobar walked the first batter, but retired the next three, including a strikeout to clinch the sweep.

Escobar earned the win for the second day in a row, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out seven in five innings of relief. Starter Katie Love allowed three runs on four hits in four innings, posting two strikeouts.

Brooke Roberts recorded her first three hit game as a Lady Flame, going 3 for 3 with a double and one run scored.

ON TAP

Liberty plays each of their next four games at home, beginning on Wednesday at 4 p.m. against North Carolina. The Lady Flames then welcome New Mexico State to Lynchburg for a three-game series beginning Friday evening at 6 p.m.

Current CUSA Standings

Liberty…………………15-3, 26-16
Western Kentucky…10-5, 25-15-1
NMSU…………………..10-5, 24-17
Louisiana Tech……9-6, 26-12
Jax State……………..7-8, 18-24
Middle Tenn………….5-13, 18-27
Sam Houston……….5-13, 16-25
FIU………………………..4-11, 16-24