Liberty (48-12) opened play in the Bryan-College Station Regional at Davis Diamond in College Station, Texas with a 10-5 win over Marist (47-8-1) on Friday afternoon, improving to 5-0 all-time against the Red Foxes. With the win, the Lady Flames move into the winner’s bracket and will take on the winner of #1 Texas A&M and Saint Francis on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET.

“What a game,” said Liberty head coach Dot Richardson. “Excited to be a part of it, to get the first game underway and under our belts. What a hitting performance by Marist, as well.  You can see why they are second in the nation in home runs, just delivering when they needed it.”

The loss snapped Marist’s 17-game win streak they rode into the postseason. The Red Foxes remain alive in this double elimination bracket. They will play the loser of the Aggies and Red Flash on Saturday afternoon.

The 10-runs scored by the Lady Flames are the most given up by the Red Foxes this season. MAAC Pitcher of the Year, Maddie Pleasants, only got through 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and eight runs, four of them earned.

After a scoreless opening inning, Liberty jumped on top first, taking advantage of an error by the Marist first baseman. The Flames scored four runs in the frame, highlighted by a three-run home run from first baseman Brynn McManus. The usual designated hitter, McManus was filling in at first base for Brooke Roberts. As a result of the error, all four runs scored in the second were unearned.

Marist would not go down without a fight. In the next inning, they got their first two batters on base before MAAC Player of the Year (for the second straight season) Miah McDonald smashed her 25th home run, plating three runs to cut their deficit to 5-3.

Liberty shortstop Savannah Whatley, who was making her first start in eight games due to injury, led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple. She immediately scored on an RBI single back up the middle by Savannah Woodard. A few batters later, with the bases loaded, Paige Doerr hit a bases clearing double off the wall in right field as the Lady Flames took control of the game with an 8-3 advantage. Doerr was a hero in last week’s CUSA Tournament with her walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning of an elimination game last Friday night against Louisiana Tech. Liberty manufactured two more runs in the fifth inning, pushing the lead to 10-3 and coming dangerously close to a run-rule victory.

“I was just trying to hit the ball hard, that’s all I can control – a good swing on a good pitch,” said Doerr. “That’s the best I can do for my team, that was my goal up to bat and just to pick up the people before me.”

After allowing the three-run home run to McDonald in third, Liberty starting pitcher and CUSA Pitcher of the Year Elena Escobar retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced as Liberty was just six outs away from the victory. To begin the sixth, the Red Foxes hit three singles to load the bases with just one out. Escobar was able to get out of the jam though, with a pop out and a strikeout, her eighth of the day.

Trotting back into the circle looking for her 15th complete game of the season, Escobar faced some more trouble. She surrendered back-to-back  home runs to open the inning, including the second of the day to McDonald. It cut the lead to 10-5 and ended Escobar’s day. Paige Bachman came on in relief, and she was able to get Marist to hit into three straight ground outs, to secure the victory. Escobar finished the day allowing nine hits and five runs in six innings on 118 pitches thrown. She picked up the win to improve to 23-3 on the season. The five runs allowed are the most she has given up in a game this season, having previously allowed four runs on a few different occasions.

Woodard led the Flames with three hits in her four at bats. She had two doubles, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs. McManus was two for three at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Doerr had just the one hit in four at bats, but her double gave her three RBI on the day. Whatley was two for three with two runs scored.

*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics

FRIDAY, MAY 16

Game 1: Liberty 10, Marist 5
Game 2: #1 Texas A&M 18, Saint Francis 0 (5 innings)

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Game 3: Liberty vs. #1 Texas A&M, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Marist vs Saint Francis, 4:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs Loser Game 3, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs Loser Game 6, 6:30 p.m. (if necessary)