Liberty softball picked up its second consecutive series win in Conference USA play following a weekend sweep of Jacksonville State. Coupled with a 4-1 loss to #4 Duke in the midweek a week ago and defeating Charlotte this week, the Lady Flames are currently 15-12 overall and 5-1 in CUSA play entering this weekend’s loaded slate of action.

TUESDAY: #4 DUKE 4, LIBERTY 1

In a game where all of the scoring came via solo home runs, Duke’s three sixth-inning long balls sent the fourth-ranked visiting Blue Devils past Liberty at Liberty Softball Stadium. Duke pushed its winning streak to a program record tying 20 games.

Liberty 1-0 just one batter into its time at the plate on Rachel Roupe’s leadoff homer in the first. The Lady Flames had a chance to extend their lead but left the bases loaded to end the fourth. Duke then tied it on a solo home run in the next half-inning. The Blue Devils took the lead for good with three sixth inning home runs.

FRIDAY: LIBERTY 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0

Liberty backed a four-hit shutout by Kaylan Yoder with a five-run fifth inning, blanking Jacksonville State in a CUSA game.

With the game tied at 0, the Gamecocks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth. Then, Liberty got a line out to center fielder Mary Claire Wilson who threw out the pinch runner at the plate, keeping the game tied.

Liberty staged a two-out rally in the home half of the fifth. After Rachel Craine walked and KK Madrey singled, two runs scored on Raigan Barrett’s single. Rachel Roupe had an RBI single and Deter’s two-run double made it 5-0. The Gamecocks left the bases loaded in the sixth and stranded two in the seventh as Yoder clinched her first career shutout.

SATURDAY: LIBERTY 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0

Katie Love tossed her first career no-hitter as Liberty picked up the win on Saturday to clinch its second CUSA series victory to open the season.

While Love and the Liberty defense were putting up zeroes on the scoreboard, Sierra Kersten drove in Mary Claire Wilson in both the first and the fifth innings, giving the Lady Flames the win.

SUNDAY: LIBERTY 6, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1

Liberty completed a weekend sweep of Jacksonville State with a 6-1 victory on Sunday.

The Flames broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run third inning. Mary Claire Wilson came through with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded, making it 3-1. Rachel Roupe later scored from second when Hailey Deter reached on a dropped third strike.

After the Lady Flames took the lead, Katie Love entered the circle in relief of starter Tyler Oubre, pitching five shutout innings while Liberty added two late insurance runs.

WEDNESDAY: LIBERTY 6, #21 CHARLOTTE 5

Liberty pushed its winning streak to four games with a win over Charlotte on Wednesday at Liberty Softball Stadium.

This marks the Lady Flames second win over a top 25 team this season as Charlotte was ranked No. 21 in this week’s D1Softball.com Top 25. The 49ers see their win streak snapped at six games.

Liberty broke a 3-3 tie with a three-run fifth. Rachel Roupe drove in Raigan Barrett with an RBI double. After an infield hit by Mary Claire Wilson, Sierra Kersten made it 6-3 Liberty with a single to right. Charlotte battled back to within one on a two-run single in the top of the sixth. Kaylan Yoder clinched the win with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, improving to a team best 5-0 on the season. She allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out one in four innings.

ON TAP

Liberty has a three-game conference series at Sam Houston. Games this weekend are scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m, and Sunday at 1 p.m.