Liberty softball continues their strong play, sweeping North Alabama this past weekend to improve to 21-12 overall and 6-0 in ASUN play. The Lady Flames will look to keep their hot streak going this week in Louisville.
SATURDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 4, NORTH ALABAMA 2
Liberty erased an early 2-0 deficit, rallying with a three-run fifth inning during a series-opening win over the Lions on Saturday at Liberty Softball Stadium. UNA went up 2-0 with a two-run homer in the first inning. Mary Claire Wilson’s fourth inning RBI triple cut the deficit in half until the Lady Flames went ahead in the fifth. Raigan Barrett led of the fifth with a single before Devyn Howard hit a go-ahead two-run homer. Denay Griffin added a two-out solo home run to provide the insurance run.
SATURDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 6, NORTH ALABAMA 0
Karlie Keeney tossed a complete game five-hit shutout and Liberty scored all the runs it needed in the first inning. With one out, Lou Allan doubled and Denay Griffin walked to load the bases. Kara Canetto made it 2-0 with a two-run single. A walk to Mary Claire Wilson filled the bases again before Rachel Roupe cleared them with a grand slam for the 6-0 lead.
SUNDAY: LIBERTY 6, NORTH ALABAMA 3
Karlie Keeney picked up the win, tossing four innings of relief during which she allowed one unearned run on four hits, walking one and fanning two. Starter McKenzie Wagoner yielded two runs on six hits in three innings. The Lady Flames used a two-run first and a four-run second to build the lead to 6-1. UNA narrowed the gap to 6-2 when Keeney entered in relief and kept the Lions at bay.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DEVYN HOWARD
Howard’s home run in game one Saturday gave the Lady Flames the lead and they would not look back the rest of that game or the rest of the weekend. She was 3/7 in the three games against North Alabama with three runs and three RBI.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK: KARLIE KEENEY
Karlie Keeney pitched a gem in game two Saturday against North Alabama. She threw a complete game without allowing a run while scattering five hits. Keeney struck out seven while walking three to get the win. On Sunday, coming on in relief, Keeney picked up the win while pitching 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, one unearned run, while striking out two and walking one.
ON TAP
Liberty makes the trek to Louisville, Kentucky this week to take on the Louisville Cardinals on Wednesday at 6 pm in a game that will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. The Lady Flames will remain in Louisville, to play Bellarmine for a three-game series. Liberty and the Knights are scheduled for a double-header Friday afternoon beginning at 1 pm and the third game on Saturday at noon.
ASUN STANDINGS
East
Liberty……………………….6-0, 21-12
Jacksonville………………5-1, 11-14
Stetson……………………..4-2, 14-20
North Florida…………….5-4, 26-9
FGCU…………………………4-5, 11-21
Kennesaw State…………2-4, 10-17
West
Central Arkansas………4-2, 19-11
Jacksonville State…….3-3, 19-13
Lipscomb………………….3-3, 13-18
North Alabama………….1-5, 22-10
Bellarmine…………………1-5, 9-23
Eastern Kentucky………1-5, 5-23