Liberty softball saw its long win streak come to an end on Tuesday evening with a loss at #14 Duke. The Lady Flames extended their winning streak to 15 games with this week’s 3-0 sweep over Eastern Kentucky to open conference play. This is the second year in a row in which Liberty has opened ASUN play with a three-game sweep at EKU. The Lady Flames are currently 16-10 on the season and 3-0 in conference.
WEDNESDAY: LIBERTY 7, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
Liberty jumped ahead in the fourth inning, with Fortner hitting an RBI triple and Woodard driving her in with a two-run homer. Two-run blasts by Fortner and Madrey pushed Liberty’s lead to 7-0 in the sixth. The Colonels capitalized on a Liberty error, scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, but got no closer.
THURSDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 9, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1 (6 INNINGS)
Liberty held a 3-0 lead through three innings before breaking the game open with a four-run fourth inning that featured a two-run homer by Fortner and an RBI single from Soto, all with two outs.
THURSDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 5, EASTERN KENTUCkY 0
Liberty completed a three-game sweep of Eastern Kentucky, blanking the Colonels 5-0 in game two of a doubleheader. Keeney held EKU’s bats at bay while the Liberty offense heated up late. Leading just 1-0 through four innings, the Lady Flames scored twice in the fifth and two more times in the sixth. The Liberty right-hander took it from there, setting a new career high with her ninth strikeout during a scoreless seventh to finish off the shutout.
TUESDAY: #14 DUKE 7, LIBERTY 2
Liberty manufactured two runs in the top of the third to take the lead, with KK Madrey scoring from third on a dropped third strike. Later in the inning, a first-and-third steal play led to Liberty’s second run.
However, Duke responded with three runs in the home half of the third, capped by Vega’s solo homer for a 3-2 lead. The Blue Devils added two runs each in the fourth and fifth while holding Liberty scoreless the rest of the way.
ON TAP
Wednesday, Mar. 22 at North Carolina, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 25 vs FGCU, 1:00 p.m. (doubleheader)
Sunday, Mar. 26 vs FGCU, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 28 at Virginia Tech, 6:00 p.m.
