Liberty softball earned wins over Maryland and Syracuse on Saturday to cap the Liberty Softball Classic with a 3-1 mark. The Lady Flames improve to 5-9 on the season and picked up their first wins over Power Four programs so far this season. Sunday’s game against Ohio State, scheduled to be played in Charlottesville, was cancelled due to inclement weather.
FRIDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 7, TOLEDO 2
Liberty opened its home schedule with a 7-2 win over Toledo on Friday afternoon to open the Liberty Softball Classic. The Lady Flames shook off an early start, posting a three-run third inning that featured an RBI double by Brynn McManus and a two-run single by Alexia Carrasquillo. Savannah Jessee’s two-run single in the fifth made it 5-0 Liberty. Toledo responded with two runs in the sixth which Liberty answered for the 7-2 final as Liberty improved to 12-0 in home openers in Liberty Softball Stadium history.
Liberty led Toledo 11-4 in hits. Abigail Findlay earned her first career win, allowing two runs on four h its, walking three and fanning two in 5.2 innings pitched. She joins teammates Camden Anders and Gabby Mike as Lady Flames who have recorded their first career victory this season. Kaylan Yoder nailed down the save with 1.1 innings of hitless relief during which she allowed one walk.
Paige Doerr went 3 for 4 with one RBI and two runs scored while Savannah Jessee batted 2 for 4 with two RBI. Alexia Carrasquillo doubled and drove in two while Maci Strickland also hit a double.
FRIDAY GAME 2: SYRACUSE 5, LIBERTY 3
Syracuse broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the seventh inning. Jadyn Burney led off with a bunt single. Then, Kaimi Tulua made her first at bat of the game count, launching a two-run homer to left. Madison Knight, who started the game at first base, entered the circle as pitcher with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third. She stranded both of those runners and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for the win.
Both teams finished the game with eight hits while Liberty left nine runners on base. Gabby Mike drew the loss, falling to 1-5 on the season, allowing fi ve runs on seven hits in six innings, walking four and fanning four before Camden Anders pitched the final inning.
Savannah Jessee was 4 for 4 for the Flames with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored, her first career four-hit game. Brynn McManus scored twice while Alexia Carrasquillo doubled and drove in one.
SATURDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 3, MARYLAND 2
The Lady Flames jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, with Savannah Jessee hitting an RBI double and Alexia Carrasquillo later following with a two-run homer. Maryland brought the go-ahead run to the plate with one out in the top of the seventh, trailing 3-1. Anna McGowan’s sacrifice fly narrowed the gap to 3-2, but Camden Anders finished off the win by getting a pop out to end the game.
Liberty held a 9-6 advantage in hits while leaving 10 runners on base. Anderson pitched her first career complete game, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits, walking two, and fanning one and she improved to 2-0 on the season.
Carrasquillo was 2 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and a a run scored while Ella Fox, Paige Doerr, and Brooke Roberts had two hits each for Liberty.
SATURDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 7, SYRACUSE 0
Syracuse loaded the bases with nobody out against Liberty starter Katie Love in the first, only to strand all three. The Lady Flames left the bases loaded in the first as well. After the first two batters reached int he second, Danner Allen entered in relief of Love. All told, Syracuse stranded 12 runners and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Liberty jumped ahead with a three-run homer by Savannah Jessee in the second inning and added two more in the fourth and another in the sixth.
Allen earned the win, tossing six innings of two-hit, shutout softball while walking five and striking out seven. Jessee batted 2 for 3 with a homer, three RBI and one run scored. Ella Fox scored a season high three runs while Maci Strickland doubled and drove in one run and Carrasquillo recorded two RBI.
ON TAP
Liberty will continue its homestand with the Liberty Softball Invitational.
2/27 vs Radford, 3 p.m., ESPN+
2/27 vs Radford, 5 p.m., ESPN+
2/28 vs Marshall, 10:30 a.m.
2/28 vs UConn, 3 p.m.
NOTABLE SEASON STATS
Savannah Jessee………372 batting average, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI
Ella Fox…………………..350 batting average, 1 double, 1 triple, 13 runs
Alexia Carrasquillo…..300 batting average, 4 runs, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI
Maci Strickland……….273 batting average, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Paige Doerr………………262 batting average, 7 runs, 1 double, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Gabby Mike 1-5, 4.93 ERA, 32.2 innings pitched
Camden Anders 2-0, 3.75 ERA, 18.2 innings pitched
Caitlyn Nesbitt 0-0, 4.85 ERA, 13 innings pitched
Kaylan Yoder 0-2, 8.4 ERA, 6.2 innings pitched
