No. 22 Liberty (17-4) survived and picked up a win, 2-1, on Tuesday evening at Liberty Softball Stadium over James Madison (6-9).
Liberty second baseman Savannah Woodard drove in both runs for the Flames in the win. In the bottom of the third, she fouled out to left field, but it was deep enough to score Savanah Whatley on the sacrifice, giving the home team the early 1-0 lead. The Dukes would fight right back, tying the contest at 1 in the top of the fourth on a Reed Butler RBI single to left center, scoring Raegan Wall.
Woodard would help the Flames reclaim the lead and the eventual final score as she belted a pitch over the right center wall in the bottom of the fifth for a solo home run. Liberty’s leadoff hitter, Woodard was 1 for 2 on the day with 2 RBI and a run scored.
JMU attempted to mount the comeback in the top of the seventh. The Dukes got their leadoff hitter on with an infield single. Another single would put runners on first and second base with one out. JMU then grounded out to short, putting runners on second and third with two outs. It was a close play that the batter was originally ruled out at first. The Dukes challenged the call which was upheld after review. The replay showed it being a bang-bang play and easily could have gone either way. Liberty’s Paige Bachman would get out of the jam, forcing a fly out to right field to close the door on the Dukes.
Bachman got the save after pitching two innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Elena Escobar started and picked up the win. She pitched five innings, allowing four hits, one unearned run while walking one and striking out three.
Liberty improves to 5-2 in one run games this season and 9-1 at home while outscoring opponents 74-24 in those home contests. Liberty has now won two straight in the series against the Dukes, which JMU leads the all-time series at 15-11.
The Lady Flames will conclude their 13 game home stand this weekend against first year CUSA program Kennesaw State for the first conference series of the season Friday through Sunday.
