Liberty softball faced strong competition this past week against all Power Five teams. The Lady Flames played against Arkansas, Illinois, and Clemson during the week, finishing with some close losses, but falling in all five games, including three in extra innings. Liberty is now 14-11 on the season, after seeing their eight game win streak come to an end.

THURSDAY: NO. 8 ARKANSAS 14, LIBERTY 9

The Razorbacks held leads of 9-0 and 13-4, but Liberty kept battling and posted a solid offensive performance. The Lady Flames saw its winning streak snapped at eight games in the loss. In their prior six games, Arkansas had given up just eight total runs. Liberty cut the lead to 9-4 on Rachel Craine’s second inning grand slam. Devyn Howard and Lou Allan also had home runs to keep Liberty in striking distance.

SATURDAY: ILLINOIS 5, LIBERTY 4 (8 innings)

Liberty erased a 4-0 deficit with a four-run sixth inning, but Illinois scored an 8th inning run to hold on for the win at Clemson’s McWhorter Stadium. The Lady Flames managed just one hit in the first five innings, but Devyn Howard hit a two-run homer and Allan hit a solo shot in the sixth. Canetto and Roupe came through with back to back doubles to tie the score. Liberty finished the game with the bases loaded.

SUNDAY GAME 1: ILLINOIS 3, LIBERTY 2

The game was a shutout into the fifth inning leadoff home run by Illinois, the first of three runs they would score in the inning. The Lady Flames responded with a two-run Denay Griffin home run in the sixth, but that was all the offense Liberty could muster.

SUNDAY GAME 2: NO. 15 CLEMSON 5, LIBERTY 4 (8 innings)

Liberty twice came just one out away from picking up a top 25 win at Clemson on Sunday evening, losing leads in the 7th and 8th innings. The Lady Flames manufactured a run in the 8th inning as Courtney Poulich scored on KC Machado’s sac fly. Clemson put runners on the corner with nobody out, followed quickly by two groundouts. Pinch hitter Kyah Keller came through with a two-run walk-off single to end the game.

MONDAY: NO. 15 CLEMSON 1, LIBERTY 0 (8 innings)

For the second day in a row, Clemson recorded a two-out walk-off win in the eighth inning, to secure a 1-0 win over the Lady Flames as Liberty has now dropped five straight. Liberty had its best chance to score in the fifth, getting the first two batters of the inning to second and third with nobody out, but Clemson got out of the jam to keep the game scoreless with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.

In the bottom of the eighth, Emily Kirby recorded the second out before a single and an error put runners on the corners. Another error ensued, allowing the winning run to score.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DEVYN HOWARD

The play of Devyn Howard at the plate this season has been one of the best surprises for Liberty so far. She continues her strong play by batting 7 for 18 this week with home runs in three of five games. She had 4 runs and 6 RBIs on the week. For the season, Liberty’s third baseman is leading the team with a .382 batting average, 21 runs, and 6 doubles. She is second on the team with 16 RBIs and 4 home runs.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: MCKENZIE WAGONER

McKenzie Wagoner had two strong performances this week, combining to pitch 8.1 innings pitched while allowing 10 hits and 4 runs as she struck out 5. For the season, Wagoner is 2-3 in eight appearances while making five starts. She has a 2.42 ERA and has struck out 15 in 26 innings pitched.

ON TAP

This week, Liberty has its final non-conference tuneup against North Carolina before conference play begins. The Lady Flames are scheduled to host the Tar Heels on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a game streamed on ESPN+. This weekend, Liberty opens up ASUN play with three games at Eastern Kentucky, all on ESPN+. The two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 pm and the series finale on Sunday at noon. Next Tuesday, Liberty plays at Virginia at 7 pm on the ACC Network.

ASUN STANDINGS

East
North Florida…………….21-6, 2-1
Liberty……………………….14-11, 0-0
Stetson……………………..10-17, 0-0
Kennesaw State…………7-13, 0-0
Jacksonville………………6-13, 0-0
FGCU…………………………8-18, 1-2

West
North Alabama………….21-5, 0-0
Central Arkansas………14-8, 0-0
Jacksonville State…….14-8, 0-0
Lipscomb………………….8-14, 0-0
Bellarmine…………………7-17, 0-0
Eastern Kentucky………3-19, 0-0