Liberty softball opened their 2023 season this past week in California with six games against elite competition. The Lady Flames have opened the year at 1-5 and now travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for four additional games.

THURSDAY: #1 OKLAHOMA 1, LIBERTY 0 (8 INNINGS)

Liberty battled two-time defending national champion Oklahoma to extra innings, with the top-seeded Sooners winning 1-0 in walk-off fashion in the eighth inning on Thursday. With the International tiebreaker in effect to start the eighth inning, Liberty sacrificed the runner to third. However, May got Caroline Hudson to ground out and Rachel Roupe to pop out. Oklahoma sacrificed the runner to third, and Keeney’s throw got away, allowing runner Jordy Bahl to score for the 1-0 win.

FRIDAY GAME 1: #16 DUKE 8, LIBERTY 5 (8 INNINGS)

Liberty, playing its second extra-inning contest in as many days, overcame an early 4-0 deficit before tying Duke at 5-5. The Blue Devils scored three unanswered runs in the eighth for the 8-5 win over the Lady Flames.

FRIDAY GAME 2: #14 WASHINGTON 8, LIBERTY 0 (6 INNINGS)

The 14th-ranked Washington Huskies pulled away late for an 8-0, six-inning victory over Liberty. Washington held a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning before breaking the game wide open with a four-run frame. The key hit came when it was still 3-0 with two outs and the bases loaded, as Lynch hit a bases-clearing double. Holtorf followed with an RBI single.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 8, SAN JOSE STATE 0 (6 INNINGS)

Liberty earned its first win of the season, an 8-0, six-inning victory over San Jose State. Liberty loaded the bases with nobody out to start the game. With one out, Roupe drew a bases-loaded walk to get the Lady Flames on the board. Soto then hit the first pitch she saw for a grand slam, making the score 5-0.

SUNDAY: #17 STANFORD 8, LIBERTY 0 (5 INNINGS)

Stanford freshman NiJaree Canady tossed a no-hitter, as the No. 17 Cardinal blanked Liberty 8-0 in five innings. Stanford led 2-0 heading into the third inning. Mahler led off with a single, while Kaneshiro homered to double the lead.  The next three batters reached, leading to Bachman’s entry into the circle. The Cardinal scored three more runs in the third, opening up the 7-0 lead.

TUESDAY: #2 UCLA 3, LIBERTY 2

Liberty took the No. 2 UCLA Bruins to the limit, with UCLA rallying for a 3-2 win over the Lady Flames, Tuesday at Easton Stadium. Trailing 2-0 in the top of the second, Alexis Soto drew a leadoff walk. With two outs, Green tied it up with one swing of the bat. UCLA’s Alyssa Garcia began the home half of the fifth with a hit and went to second on a passed ball. Powell hit a go-ahead RBI single for a 3-2 lead.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ALEXIS SOTO

Liberty’s Alexis Soto led the team this past week with five runs scored and four RBI. She had four hits on the week, one of those being a double and another a home run. The homer was a grand slam in the Flames’ only win of the season so far this year, coming against San Jose State.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: PAIGE BACHMAN

Bachman has been a shining star for the Lady Flames early in the year. After spending much of last season playing at first base for Liberty, Bachman has earned the right to get a chance in the circle. She led the team to the only win so far this season, pitching a complete game shutout against San Jose State. In 21.1 innings pitched so far this year, Bachman has a 2.30 ERA and 1-2 record while tossing two complete games.

ON TAP

This week, Liberty travels to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for four games in the Puerto Vallarta Challenge. The Lady Flames open play Thursday against Ole Miss at 1:30. Liberty will play in successive days through Sunday, taking on Kansas, Tennessee, and Cal State Fullerton.