No. 21 Liberty softball opened the new year in Clearwater, Florida at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic. The Lady Flames dropped all five games, while playing all Power Four opponents, including three top 10 foes.

FRIDAY GAME 1: #4 TENNESSEE 6, #21 LIBERTY 1

To open the season, Liberty scored first in the top of the first inning, after leadoff batter Paige Doerr hit a leadoff single before advancing to third on a pair of passed balls. Savannah Jessee got Liberty on the board with a two-out RBI single as the Lady Flames grabbed the 1-0 lead. The Lady Vols immediately responded, tying the game at one in the bottom of the first.  Liberty left six runners on base over the first four innings. It allowed Tennessee to break the tie and take control, as they scored three runs in the fourth on home runs from Emma Clarke and Taelyn Holley. With the win, Tennessee improved to 23-1 all-time against Liberty in softball.

The Volunteers outhit Liberty, 6-4, in the game. Karlyn Pickens earned the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits, walking three, and striking out 13. Liberty’s Kaylan Yoder drew the loss, allowing four runs on five hits, walking one in three innings. Freshman Caitlyn Nesbitt allowed two unearned runs on one hit, walking two,a ND striking out two in three innings of relief work.

FRIDAY GAME 2: #9 CLEMSON 9, #21 LIBERTY 4

In the straight game, Liberty scored first, once again crossing home plate for a single run in the first inning. The Tigers rallied for three runs in the second. The Lady Flames narrowed the gap to 3-2 on a Brynn McManus sacrifice fly in the third. Clemson pulled away with two runs each in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.

Despite the loss, Liberty led Clemson 10-7 in hits. The Lady Flames committed five errors and left 10 runners on base. Sierra Maness picked up the win for the Tigers, allowing two runs on five  hits, walking two and striking out two in 3.1 innings in relief of starter Keira Crosby. Katie Love took the loss for Liberty, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits, walking three and fanning one in two innings. Gabby Mike pitched three innings, yielding one earned run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Camden Anders gave up one run in one inning.

Paige Doerr went 1 for 4 with a RBI and one run scored while Brynn McManus was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Brooke Roberts went 2 for 4 with a double.

SATURDAY GAME 1: MISSOURI 13, #21 LIBERTY 2 (6 innings)

The Tigers scored once in the second and third, added two more in the fourth and one in the fifth as they took control of the game, 5-0, while keeping Liberty hitless through the first five innings. With eight runs in the sixth inning, Missouri broke open the game on way to the run-rule win. The Lady Flames broke up a no-hit and shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on a single by Savannah Jessee.

Missouri outhit Liberty, 11-2, with eight of the Tigers’ hits going for extra bases. Abby Carr picked up the win, allowing two runs on two hits, walking three, and fanning five in six innings. Kaylan Yoder suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings before giving away to four relief pitchers.

SATURDAY GAME 2: #5 OREGON 10, #21 LIBERTY 2

In a rematch of last season’s Eugene Super Regional, the game was scoreless through the first four innings before Liberty struck first for the third time in the team’s first four games this season. In the bottom of the fifth, JaMaya Byrum reached on an error, stole second and then reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Ella Fox. Paige Doerr grounded to short, with Byrum scoring the game’s first run. Oregon responded with six runs in the sixth, capped by a grand slam by Stefini Ma’Ake.

Oregon led Liberty 13-3 in hits. Liberty left eight runners on base. Taylour Spencer earned the win, allowing one unearned run on three hits in five innings pitched. Gabby Mike picked up the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out one. Katie Love and Camden Anders pitched in relief.

SUNDAY: NOTRE DAME 5, #21 LIBERTY 1

Notre Dame scored twice in the second inning, taking advantage of a Liberty error. The Fighting Irish doubled the lead to 4-0 by the end of the 5th inning. Liberty would get on the board in the top of the 6th on Savanah Whatley’s RBI double, which scored Ella Fox for the only run of the game for the Lady Flames.

Gabby Mike allowed three runs, two of them earned, on four hits while walking three in 3.2 innings as she drew the loss. Caitlyn Nesbitt yielded two runs in 2.1 innings of work. Ella Fox was 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored.

ON TAP

Liberty remains in Florida this week and will play a single non-conference game at Florida State in Tallahassee on Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network+. The Lady Flames will then turn their attention to the Bama Bash which begins Friday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Liberty is scheduled to play Georgia Southern on Friday at 3 p.m. followed by a game against Alabama at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Liberty will play those two teams again, first facing Alabama at noon and then Georgia Southern at 5 p.m. Liberty will conclude its opening two week road trip on Sunday against Purdue at 11 a.m.

NOTABLE STATS

Ella Fox 4/10 batting with 1 double and 3 runs scored
Savannah Jessee 4/13 batting with 3 RBI
Savannah Whatley 4/14 batting with 2 doubles and 1 RBI
Brooke Roberts 3/15 batting with 1 double
Paige Doerr 2/17 batting with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored

Gabby Mike 0-2, 5.25 ERA, 12 innings pitched
Caitlyn Nesbitt 1.83 ERA, 6 innings pitched
Kaylan Yoder 0-2, 7.88 ERA, 6.1 innings pitched
Camden Anders 8.75 ERA, 4 innings pitched