Liberty softball earned its fourth consecutive conference series sweep, taking three games at home against UTEP on the weekend. The Lady Flames are now 14-1 at home this season, outscoring opponents 132-36 in those contests. Liberty is 31-6 overall and 11-0 in CUSA play.

WEDNESDAY: #20 LIBERTY 9, LONGWOOD 2

The visiting Lancers took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lady Flames would respond by capitalizing on three Longwood errors in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. With Liberty leading 6-2 in the top of the fourth, Longwood loaded the bases with nobody out. Paige Bachman, in relief, got out of the jam without allowing a run.

Bachman earned the win, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out five in four innings of relief. Starter Tyler Oubre yielded two runs, one earned, on five hits, with two walks and one strikeout in three innings. Savannah Whatley was 2 for 2 with three runs scored, while KK Madrey, Paige Doerr, and Rachel Craine all went 2 for 3. Every Lady Flame who batted in the game had at least one hit or one RBI.

Liberty trails Longwood in the all-time series, 39-26, however, the Flames have won all seven meetings since leaving the Big South following the 2018 season. The Lady Flames are 13-1 against Big South teams since the 2019 campaign.

FRIDAY: #20 LIBERTY 10, UTEP 2 (5 innings)

Liberty pounded out 10 hits over five innings in the series opener over UTEP on Friday night. The Miners loaded the bases with two outs in the first. However, Elena Escobar left them loaded with her third strikeout of the inning. Liberty then built a commanding 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first getting RB hits from Brooke Roberts (two-run single), KK Madrey (two-run triple), and Paige Doerr (RBI single).

Escobar earned the win, improving to 6-0 in conference play and 13-2 overall this season. She allowed two runs on five hits, walking four and striking out seven. KK Madrey finished the day 3 for 3 with a triple, a career high-tying four RBI and one run scored. Brooke Roberts batted 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Savannah Woodard hit 1 for 2 with three runs scored, while Rachel Roupe went 1 for 3 with a homer, two RBI and two runs.

SATURDAY GAME 1: #20 LIBERTY 2, UTEP 1

Kaylan Yoder and Serenity Jacoway battled through a scoreless game into the 5th inning. The Lady Flames broke through on an RBI single by Savannah Woodard in the bottom of the 5th, adding a Paige Doerr sac fly in the 6th for a 2-0 advantage entering the 7th. Halle Hogan homered for UTEP in the 7th to cut the lead to 2-1 with one out, but Yoder struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Yoder picked up the win, allowing one run on two hits, walking two, and striking out four. She is now 6-2 on the season. Doerr was 2 for 2 with a sac fly and one RBI while Brynn McManus hit her 10th double of the season.

With its 30th win in its 36th game of the season, its the fastest to 30 wins in program history. The previous record was 38 games, starting 30-8 in 2018.

SATURDAY GAME 2: #20 LIBERTY 11, UTEP 1

UTEP took the early 1-0 lead, holding onto it into the bottom of the 4th as Miner starting pitcher Audrey Gallegos retired the first 10 Lady Flames in order. Rachel Roupe would break up the perfect game, no hitter, and shutout with one swing of the bat, to tie the game with a homer. The Lady Flames then backed Paige Bachman’s 10-strikeout performance with a pair of runs in the 5th before erupting for eight in the 6th, capped by Roupe’s walk-off three-run home run.

Bachman improves to 7-1 with the win, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out t a season high 10. Roupe was 2 for 3 with the two home runs. She also added four RBI and two runs scored. She has 15 home runs on the season, on pace to threaten the program single season record of 21. KK Madrey batted 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and one stolen base.

ON TAP

Liberty is scheduled to take on Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Lady Flames will then play host to Middle Tennessee for a three-game CUSA series beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.

CUSA STANDINGS

Liberty……………….11-0, 31-6
FIU……………………..8-4, 25-11
LA Tech……………..8-4, 21-13
NMSU……………….8-4, 21-14
Sam Houston…..6-6, 17-19
Jax State……………6-6, 23-13
MTSU………………..6-6, 17-19
WKU………………….4-7, 17-15
UTEP…………………2-10, 12-19
Kennesaw………..0-12, 9-27