After Missouri State won game one of the weekend series at home against Liberty softball, the Lady Flames swept the doubleheader on Friday to secure the series win. After losing the series opener, 2-0, Liberty then outscored the Bears 15-1 in two games Friday to improve to 18-19 on the season and 11-4 in CUSA play.

TUESDAY: NORTH CAROLINA 11, LIBERTY 6

Liberty and North Carolina connected for three home runs a piece, with the Tar Heels prevailing in the slugfest on Tuesday night to improve to 25-9 on the season.

Trailing 9-2, Liberty was unable to capitalize on bases-loaded situations in both the fifth and sixth innings. UNC made it 11-2 with a seventh-inning two-run homer by Rayna Blackwell. The Lady Flames connected for a pair of two-run homers in the seventh, narrowing the gap to 11-6 as Alexia Carrasquillo and Paige Doerr both went deep before Brooke Roberts hit in a game-ending pop-out.

Liberty starter Camden Anders drew the loss, allowing five runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one in two innings of work. Danner Allen (2.2 innings) and Gabby Mike (2.1 innings) both pitched in relief.

Playing against her former team, Ella Fox batted 3 for 4 for her first career three-hit game. Dani Lee was 2 for 4 with a homer, two RBI and a run scored while Paige Doerr was 2 for 3 with a homer, two RBI and one run. Brynn McManus was 2 for 3.

THURSDAY: MISSOURI STATE 2, LIBERTY 0

Missouri State pitched a combined five-hit shutout to open the three game series with a victory. The Bears took advantage of an error in both the fourth and sixth innings, scoring one unearned run in both innings to take a 2-0 lead into the seventh. Liberty would load the bases with two outs in the final frame, on a hit batter and two walks. However, Missouri State got Brynn McManus on a grounder to third to close out the shutout.

Gabby Mike drew the loss, allowing two runs, both unearned, on five hits, striking out a career high seven batters. Brynn McManus was 2 for 4 while Savannah Jessee, Dani Lee, and Alexia Carrasquillo had one hit each.

FRIDAY GAME 1: LIBERTY 7, MISSOURI STATE 1

Liberty grabbed the 2-0 lead with a single run in the second and fifth innings before breaking the game wide open with a four-run sixth inning. Dani Lee (RBI single), Paige Doerr (bases loaded walk), and Brynn McManus (two-run single) provided the RBIs in the sixth. Abigail Findlay entered the circle in relief of Camden Anders in the seventh. Despite giving up a solo home run, Findlay fanned three batteries to end the game.

Anders improved to 6-0 in CUSA games with the win, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out eight in six shutout innings, setting a new career high for strikeouts. Findlay yielded one run on two hits, fanning three. Brynn McManus was 3 for 3 with a double and three RBI while Alexia Carrasquillo batted 3 for 4 with a homer, one RBI, and two runs scored. Dani Lee was 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run. Savannah Whatley went 1 for 2 with two runs scored.

FRIDAY GAME 2: LIBERTY 8, MISSOURI STATE 0 (5 innings)

Liberty sophomore Danner Allen tossed a no-hitter in game two of Friday’s doubleheader. Liberty used a four-run fourth inning to build a 5-0 lead. Brynn McManus made a diving catch in right field to end the fourth inning, keeping Allen’s no-hitter alive. Allen struck out pinch hitter Nicole Norman for the final out, capping the five inning no-hitter.

It was Allen’s first career no-hitter and second shutout this season, walking three and striking out three. Allen joins Camden Anders (March 14th at Middle Tennessee) as Lady Flames with a no-hitter this season. Allen’s no-hitter was the 25th in the program’s NCAA Division I history.

Every Liberty batter either recorded a hit or an RBI. Ella Fox was 3 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Brynn McManus batted 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI, and one run scored. Brooke Roberts went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, while Savanah Whatley drove in two runs.

ON TAP

4/8 vs Duke, 3 p.m., ESPN+
4/10 vs Western Kentucky, 6 p.m., ESPN+
4/11 vs Western Kentucky, 3 p.m., ESPN+
4/12 vs Western Kentucky, 11 a.m.

NOTABLE SEASON STATS

Alexia Carrasquillo…..339 batting average, 16 runs, 6 doubles, 9 HR, 30 RBI
Savannah Jessee………324 batting average, 5 doubles, 6 HR, 22 RBI
Ella Fox…………………..339 batting average, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 28 runs
Brynn McManus………306 batting average, 19 runs, 4 doubles, 7 HR, 27 RBI
Paige Doerr………………253 batting average, 16 runs, 3 doubles, 4 HR, 20 RBI
Dani Lee…………………..481 batting average, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Gabby Mike 2-8, 3.77 ERA, 72.1 innings pitched
Camden Anders 9-3, 3.21 ERA, 72.0 innings pitched
Danner Allen 5-1, 5.13 ERA, 43.2 innings pitched

CUSA STANDINGS

Jax State…………….13-2, 29-11
Liberty………………..11-4, 18-19
Western Kentucky…11-4, 27-8
Sam Houston………9-6, 24-18
New Mexico St…….8-7, 18-20
FIU…………………….8-7, 26-12
Delaware……………..8-7, 19-19
LA Tech……………….7-8, 21-18
Missouri State………5-10, 16-20
Middle Tennessee…4-11, 14-21
Kennesaw State…….3-12, 7-28
UTEP…………………..3-12, 11-23